Study Shows Tiny Plankton May Influence Effectiveness of Ocean Carbon-Removal Strategies

Researchers at the Columbia Climate School have found that marine organisms, specifically shell-building plankton (Globigerina bulloides), can influence the effectiveness of ocean alkalinity enhancement, a proposed method for removing atmospheric carbon dioxide. In a new study, plankton grown under high alkalinity conditions developed denser shells, a process that consumes alkalinity and could make the carbon removal strategy slightly less effective.