Scientists are experimenting with a novel approach to combat both global warming and ocean acidification: adding alkaline substances – essentially, “antacids” – directly to seawater. Recent trials conducted by researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution involved releasing over 16,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide (lye) into the Gulf of Maine, marked with a red dye for tracking.
The Problem: Rising Acidity
The oceans absorb roughly one-third of human-caused carbon emissions, mitigating atmospheric warming. However, this absorption comes at a cost. Dissolved carbon dioxide reacts with seawater, forming carbonic acid, which lowers the ocean’s pH and reduces its ability to absorb further carbon. This acidification poses a severe threat to marine ecosystems and the billion-plus people dependent on fisheries.
The Solution: Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) aims to counteract acidification by increasing the ocean’s pH. This allows the sea to store more carbon for millennia. While OAE is not a standalone solution – drastic emissions reductions remain critical – experts agree that current efforts are insufficient to prevent dangerous warming scenarios.
The Experiment: Real-World Testing
In August, researchers deployed ships and underwater robots in the Wilkinson Basin, 50 miles off Massachusetts. They released alkaline solutions, raising the pH of a six-mile patch of ocean from 7.95 to 8.3 over five days. The experiment monitored the effects, with pH returning to normal levels after the intervention.
Why This Matters
The oceans cover 70% of Earth’s surface and play a vital role in climate regulation. Given the scale of the problem, large-scale ocean intervention is becoming increasingly likely. While controversial, OAE represents a potentially crucial supplement to emissions reductions.
The ultimate goal is to prevent catastrophic climate tipping points – including extreme weather, species loss, and widespread resource scarcity – that become exponentially worse beyond a 2°C warming threshold. The question is no longer if we will manipulate the planet’s chemistry, but how and at what scale.
