UCLA’s Sea Change project uses an innovative electrochemical process to increase the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, mitigating the effects of climate change.
Scientists at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed an innovative way to tackle global warming. Called Sea Change, this project aims to increase the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) oceans can absorb, by using them as a giant sponge. In this article, we will explore the revolutionary Sea Change project and its potential to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The Importance of the Oceans in the Climate Crisis
The oceans are vital for our planet’s health, and they are also a critical part of the climate system. The oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface and absorb about 25% of all the CO2 emitted by all human activities. They also help regulate the Earth’s temperature by absorbing 90% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions. However, these vital functions are at risk due to the impacts of climate change.
The ocean’s ability to absorb CO2 is limited by the amount of carbonate ions in the water. These ions are essential for the formation of shells and skeletons of marine organisms, and their concentration is decreasing due to the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere. This process, known as ocean acidification, makes it harder for marine organisms to build their shells and skeletons, and it reduces the ocean’s capacity to absorb CO2. The Sea Change project aims to address this problem by removing CO2 from seawater and converting it into a solid form that can be stored in the ocean for thousands of years.
The Sea Change Process: How It Works
The Sea Change process uses an electrochemical method to convert CO2 dissolved in seawater into a solid form of calcium carbonate. The process takes place on a barge equipped with an electrochemical reactor that pumps seawater and applies an electric current to it. The electric current splits the seawater into hydrogen and oxygen, and the CO2 in the seawater reacts with the calcium present in the reactor to form calcium carbonate.
The calcium carbonate produced by the reactor is in the form of a fine white powder that can be stored in the ocean. This powder is similar to the one found in limestone, chalk, and shells of marine organisms. The process removes CO2 from seawater and helps increase the ocean’s capacity to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere. The Sea Change team believes that this method could potentially remove millions of metric tons of CO2 from the oceans each year.
The Potential of SeaChange to Combat Climate Change
The Sea Change project is still in its early stages, and the team is working on scaling up the technology to make it more efficient and cost-effective. However, if successful, SeaChange could have a significant impact on mitigating the effects of climate change. The oceans are the Earth’s largest carbon sink, and increasing their capacity to absorb more CO2 could help reduce the levels of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere which will help in conquering climate change.
The technology used in the Sea Change project could also be applied to other carbon capture and storage projects, such as capturing CO2 emissions from power plants and industrial facilities. The stored calcium carbonate could also be used in the construction industry, replacing cement, which is a significant source of CO2 emissions. The Sea Change project shows that innovative solutions are possible to tackle the biggest challenge of our times which is climate change.
