Michigan Solar & Wind Power Solutions

The Key To Reducing CO2 Is In The Ocean. 12/07/2008

Posted by Mark Hagerty

Are deep ocean pumps our key to reducing our CO2?

Scientists at the University of Hawaii are taking 1000’ long deep ocean pumps and pumping nutrient rich deep ocean water towards the surface. The water comes from over 1000’ deep and is pumped towards the surface of an area of the ocean that was devoid of measurable quantities of diatom plankton. The diatom plankton thrives on CO2 in nutrient rich areas of the ocean.

As the waves rise and fall these pumps pump the water to the surface. These pumps are surprisingly simple. They consist of a one-way valve approximately a meter in diameter. The valve is connected to a 1000’ long flexible tube. This plankton can multiply to billions in very little time. They can consume thousands of tons of CO2. When they die, they fall to the bottom of the ocean, taking the CO2 with them. Pumps like these can someday be producing plankton blooms that can spread hundreds of miles.