Enhancing oceanic light availability below the photic layer

Oceans & marine

Ocean bioproductivity through photosynthesis stops beyond the photic layer as no more energy from the sun can penetrate beyond that point.

There have been some isolated speculations about a way to increase light availability at deeper levels, so as to allow more carbon sequestration in biomatter through photosynthesis. It is however very unclear how this would work. A reference to the idea can be found here: https://groups.google.com/g/CarbonDioxideRemoval/c/AXkmQwmXod0

Technological Readiness Level (TRL)

Low 1

This idea is apparently not being developed.

Technological Readiness Level (TRL)

A technology with a TRL of 1-3: TRL 1 – Basic; TRL 2 – Concept formulated; TRL 3 – Experimental proof of concept

Scalability

Low 1

Scalability

Physically unable to scale; sub-linear/logarithmic efficiency of scalability

Timeliness for near-future effects

Low 1

Timeliness for near-future effects

Implemented too late to make a significant difference

Northern + Arctic potential

Unknown 0

Global potential

Unknown 0

Cost - benefit

Unknown 0

Environmental risks

Medium 2

Like other ocean bioproductivity enhancement techniques, this idea potentially comes with significant environmental impacts. The deep sea impacts of such an intervention are potentially even more significant (Levin et al, 2023). There is moreover ample evidence that current levels of light producing are having significant effects on marine ecosystems (Maggi and Benedetti-Cecchi, 2018).

Environmental risks

More widespread and possibly regional impacts that extend beyond the immediate solution deployment location

Community impacts

Unknown 0

Ease of reversibility

Unknown 0

Risk of termination shock

Unknown 0

Legality/governance

Medium 2

Legality/governance

Fits within existing structures to a certain degree, but some policy changes are needed to deploy at scale

Scientific/media attention

Low 1

This idea is apparently not being developed, and has only been mentioned a few times in online fora.

Scientific/media attention

Very low attention from individuals and/or abandoned ideas; low media attention; no commercial interest.

References

Levin, L.A., Alfaro-Lucas, J.M., Colaço, A., Cordes, E.E., Craik, N., Danovaro, R., Hoving, H.J. et al. (2023) Deep-sea impacts of climate interventions Ocean manipulation to mitigate climate change may harm deep-sea ecosystems. Science. Vol 379, Issue 6636 pp. 978-981 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ade7521

Maggi, E. & Benedetti-Cecchi, L. (2018). Trophic compensation stabilizes marine primary producers exposed to artificial light at night. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 606, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12769

Related ideas

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Oceans & marine

Artificial upwelling

Oceans play an important role in global heat transfer and carbon storage processes. As global temperatures and atmospheric carbon levels rise, some have suggested artificially modifying the vertical movement of water to enhance these processes.

Industry

Atmospheric Methane destruction: Tropospheric iron salt aerosol injection

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Oceans & marine

Enhancing oceanic light availability below the photic layer

Ocean bioproductivity through photosynthesis stops beyond the photic layer as no more energy from the sun can penetrate beyond that point.

Ice sheets and glaciers

Ice sheet stabilization by draining water or bed freezing

One of the potentially most catastrophic effects of contemporary global warming would be the dramatic increase in sea levels as a result of the melting Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Even if all current emissions were immediately stopped, sea level rise could still occur because of lockedin warming (ICCI 2022).

Sea ice & icebergs

Iceberg management

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Sea ice & icebergs

Sea ice albedo modification

Arctic sea ice extent has rapidly decreased over the last few decades, with most multi-year ice disappearing altogether. This has already had major effects on local communities and ecosystems. The disappearance of the relatively reflective sea ice also leads to a dramatic decrease of albedo in the Arctic and subsequent high energy uptakes by the darker water during the Arctic summers.

Mountain pine and spruce forest in winter, Hillestadheia, Norway

Atmosphere / solar radiation

Snowfall enhancement

With the exception of some regions like Antarctica, global snowfall amount and frequency have decreased, and the timespan during which snow cover remains has shortened (Zender 2012). This has multiple effects on human and natural systems as it influences widely diverging processes such as reducing surface albedo and changes in the hydrological cycle.

Shelf-Iceberg, North of Antarctic Peninsula

Ice sheets and glaciers

Enhancing oceanic light availability below the photic layer

Analysis overview

Technological Readiness Level (TRL)

Technological Readiness Level (TRL)

Scalability

Scalability

Timeliness for near-future effects

Timeliness for near-future effects

Northern + Arctic potential

Global potential

Cost - benefit

Environmental risks

Environmental risks

Community impacts

Ease of reversibility

Risk of termination shock

Legality/governance

Legality/governance

Scientific/media attention

Scientific/media attention

References

Related ideas

Artificial upwelling

Artificial upwelling

Atmospheric Methane destruction: Tropospheric iron salt aerosol injection

Atmospheric Methane destruction: Tropospheric iron salt aerosol injection

Enhancing oceanic light availability below the photic layer

Enhancing oceanic light availability below the photic layer

Ice sheet stabilization by draining water or bed freezing

Ice sheet stabilization by draining water or bed freezing

Iceberg management

Iceberg management

Sea ice albedo modification

Sea ice albedo modification

Snowfall enhancement

Snowfall enhancement

Ice sheet stabilization via buttressing

Ice sheet stabilization via buttressing