<p>The arrival of plants can only reduce the total CO<sub>2</sub> levels because they metabolize carbon and oxygen. Plants don't make CO<sub>2</sub> appear which wasn't there, they only absorb and release ambient CO<sub>2</sub>. Two ways that the ocean can absorb more CO<sub>2</sub> through a higher atmosphere concentration, and through acidification of limestone which can dissolve the limestone. If an algal Bloom reduces the pH of the water where corals previously were, they may dissolve some limestone and raise the CO<sub>2</sub> levels.</p>
<p>Seeding algae is done in the middle of the ocean using iron which encourages green plants and photosynthesis rather than cyanobacteria, in zones where there is no limestone. So it can only reduce ambient CO<sub>2</sub> levels.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-26T06:17:44.670Z
2021-06-26T07:51:20.017Z
2021-06-26T07:51:20.017Z
bandybabboon
<p>From the July, 2021 <em>Scientific American</em>:
The Carbon rocks of Oman:</p>
<p>&quot;...<em>fertilizing the ocean would increase the growth of phytoplankton that naturally absorb CO<sub>2</sub> through photosynthesis'</em>.  (page 47)</p>
<p>Yes, plants on the land or on/in the water breathe in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, but....</p>
<p>They are eaten by other organisms, including bacteria, that consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide, ultimately LOWERING levels of oxygen in the water (creating dead zones) and RAISING levels of carbon dioxide in the air....</p>
<p>I know this because I live in the greater Chesapeake Bay area, and have relatives in the lower Mississippi area.</p>
<p>We are always being told to REDUCE fertilizer use, not increase it, because 'blooms' of algae, cyanobacteria, etc. ultimately REDUCE levels of oxygen in the water, creating dead zones, and increase levels of CO<sub>2</sub> in the atmosphere....</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-26T05:20:45.803Z
This is related to your question: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09100-5
f.thorpe
<climate-change><oceanography><geoengineering>
Wouldn't 'fertilizing' the ocean to increase cyanobacteria, algae and other phytoplankton populations actually INCREASE CO2 levels in the air?
Kurt Hikes
# Wouldn't 'fertilizing' the ocean to increase cyanobacteria, algae and other phytoplankton populations actually INCREASE CO2 levels in the air?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-26)

From the July, 2021 *Scientific American*:
The Carbon rocks of Oman:

"...*fertilizing the ocean would increase the growth of phytoplankton that naturally absorb CO2 through photosynthesis'*. (page 47)

Yes, plants on the land or on/in the water breathe in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, but....

They are eaten by other organisms, including bacteria, that consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide, ultimately LOWERING levels of oxygen in the water (creating dead zones) and RAISING levels of carbon dioxide in the air....

I know this because I live in the greater Chesapeake Bay area, and have relatives in the lower Mississippi area.

We are always being told to REDUCE fertilizer use, not increase it, because 'blooms' of algae, cyanobacteria, etc. ultimately REDUCE levels of oxygen in the water, creating dead zones, and increase levels of CO2 in the atmosphere....

**Tags:** climate-change, oceanography, geoengineering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is related to your question: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09100-5  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-06-26. Score: 5

The arrival of plants can only reduce the total CO2 levels because they metabolize carbon and oxygen. Plants don't make CO2 appear which wasn't there, they only absorb and release ambient CO2. Two ways that the ocean can absorb more CO2 through a higher atmosphere concentration, and through acidification of limestone which can dissolve the limestone. If an algal Bloom reduces the pH of the water where corals previously were, they may dissolve some limestone and raise the CO2 levels.

Seeding algae is done in the middle of the ocean using iron which encourages green plants and photosynthesis rather than cyanobacteria, in zones where there is no limestone. So it can only reduce ambient CO2 levels.


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