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Post by Jared Conner on Jul 15, 2014 15:08:08 GMT
Due to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the biosphere and the rising temperatures of the oceans, the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of the oceans is likely to start decreasing. This is called anoxia, and it is already happening in several regions of the world due to algae blooms and eutrophication. Anoxia has the potential to severely inhibit marine ecosystems and organisms, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction. What's more, is that this problem can lead to euxinia, in which oxygen depleted oceans provide optimal conditions for bacteria that release massive amounts of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas into the ocean and atmosphere, which could choke out animal life on land. In order to mitigate this problem, ocean DO levels could be artificially sustained with floating automated aerators that use solar energy to take in air and disperse it into ocean water at many different depths, thus oxygenating the surrounding water. While this kind of project could be quite expensive on a global scale, it could serve as a necessary action until atmospheric levels of CO2 can be lowered (and global temperatures can be brought down to preindustrial levels). The technology for these devices already exists, so it is a relatively feasible technology. These devices could also be implemented within freshwater and brackish regions in order to counteract eutrophication caused by human practices. Any ideas, comments, or opinions about this technology?
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Post by Jared Conner on Jan 5, 2015 23:01:38 GMT
As a sort of follow-up/improvement on this idea, What if there was a marine ecosystem stabilization and rehabilitation station/module that could use solar and wind power to provide both aeration and coral reef restoration? This module could be floating, or permanently fixed. It would combat ocean eutrophication, anoxia, and euxinia, and also use Biorock technology to regenerate or create coral reefs in warm seas. Biorock technology uses a weak, low voltage electric current passed from an anode to a conductive metal structure that serves as the cathode. The ocean water undergoes electrolysis, and a hard mineral accretion builds up on the cathode, composed of carbonates and other insoluble salts. This material is stronger than concrete, and also has oxygen forming on the cathode, which increases localized oxygen concentrations. Corals willingly form on the biorock, and, as long as there is a constant current, seem to do very well, even in acidifying waters. Check out this link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biorock for more info on Biorock. |
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Post by selcouth on Jan 6, 2015 1:59:32 GMT
This sounds interesting. How many of these stations would it require for there to be a noticeable difference? Do you know?
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Post by Jared Conner on Jan 6, 2015 2:46:56 GMT
Hey selcouth (is it okay if I call you by your real name?), there would probably have to be hundreds of thousands to millions - depending on their size - of these stations to cover a large volume of the ocean. Thanks for joining the forum.
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Post by selcouth on Jan 7, 2015 2:54:04 GMT
Yes, you can use my first name.
I assume this would have to be a government driven action, correct? Are there any companies that would offer to build these floating aerators that you know of?
I think this forum is a wonderful idea btw.
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Post by Permageek on Mar 19, 2015 0:44:33 GMT
This sort of large scale action would have to be government enforced no doubt about it. Its just like deep space exploration, there is no immediate commercial benefit to performing a service for humanity, at least not a short term one. That is why governments must act in the long term interests of not only the people they represent, but all the ecosystems that these people rely on.
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Post by Jared Conner on Mar 20, 2015 4:55:43 GMT
Coming back to this topic after several months of consideration, I wonder if this concept is too simple. Aerating the water by means of water flow or air pumping seems quite rudimentary. Could there be a more complex, better way to restore oxygen to the water? The BioRock Technology seems like a better solution because it alters the chemistry of the water in order to produce oxygen, instead of wasting energy to transport large amounts of matter. Is there any ideas that do not require active motion, such as electrolysis to create oxygen?
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Post by Zoltanwelvart on Sept 28, 2015 1:12:00 GMT
The canals left by Mayans, meandered across caliche plane , getting greener. Filling with fish and birds, migratory. The water itself a perfect fertilizer. They, like ankorwat. Agricultural scientists that fed the water green dirt, mined below a dried up sea. In a bad area. Of saline water that doesn't taste salty. These canals supported a culture in an area of no fertility. Mayan art is evidence of fertility, intellect. They grew new algae on the oldest most elementally correct to have made mentally superior people who farmed algae fertilization via irrigation leaving evidence of seven pyramid building city states. As mentioned in Richard fisher's. Grandcanyon of Cambodia.mayans canals dumpted green water, saturated with oxygen, into ocean for the krill to eat and the whales to play in. In years of Atlantis man didn't eat whales. Well nourished man no longer eats man, hardly.
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