Researchers in Massachusetts are investigating whether ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) could help mitigate climate change by increasing the ocean’s natural carbon absorption capacity. The technique involves dispersing alkaline materials across ocean surfaces to encourage seawater to absorb more atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Adam Subhas, a scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, leads the LOC-NESS project, which conducted field trials in the Gulf of Maine. During trials last summer, the research team introduced approximately 65,000 litres of sodium hydroxide into the water 40 miles offshore from Boston. The alkaline material was mixed with a red dye to enable tracking via sensors and satellites. Multiple vessels and autonomous underwater vehicles monitored alkalinity levels and carbon uptake over a four-day period, with observations from federal and state agencies as well as fishing industry representatives.
The initiative operates within a broader context of marine carbon dioxide removal research. Global investment in the sector has exceeded £370 million over the past five years, though funding has become constrained following recent federal policy shifts. Proponents argue that ocean carbon removal strategies could complement fossil fuel reduction efforts to help prevent global temperature increases beyond the Paris Agreement targets.
Current research focuses on understanding how marine organisms respond to varying alkalinity levels. After initial studies on microscopic species at the base of the food chain, researchers are now examining lobsters as a key study organism. Scientists emphasize the importance of continued emissions reductions while simultaneously developing scientific understanding of emerging technologies that might supplement broader climate mitigation strategies in the future.
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