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Pitch

Pumping oxygen-rich surface waters down into anoxic deep waters will discourage methanogenesis and enhance methanotrophy.


Description

Summary

 

Geoengineering techniques for mixing strata have been proposed.  Mixing may promote bubble dissolution by extending mean bubble path and altering methane partial pressure of surrounding water. Mixing may allow management of methanogenesis and methanotrophy by means of temperature adjustment, aeration, and nutrient transport. For point sources, targeted downwelling may raise water velocities at vents, thus reducing mean bubble radius, or aiding dissolution.


Category of the action

Geoengineering


What actions do you propose?


Who will take these actions?


Where will these actions be taken?


What are other key benefits?

It's best to capture methane instead, if possible.  However, methane acts as an energy source in the presence of oxygen, so bringing down oxygenated waters to mix with methane-rich strata may ultimately support the marine food chain.


What are the proposal’s costs?

Please see the calculations in Zhou (references section) for detailed treatment.

Experimental treatment of small vents can be done at lab scale with existing equipment.  Scaling costs depend largely on the outcome of surveys, and the evolution of methane vents as the World warms.


Time line


Related proposals


References