Thistle D, Carman KR, Sedlacek L, Brewer PG, Fleeger JW, Barry JP
Deep-ocean, sediment-dwelling animals are sensitive to sequestered carbon dioxide
Atmospheric concentrations of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) continue to rise. Among the proposed solutions is the storage of large amounts of man-made CO2 in the deep sea. This Feature Article evaluates what impact dumping CO2 into the deep sea might have on the animals living in the seabed.
The CO2-enriched seawater that resulted from placing CO2 on the bottom (photo) killed large numbers of these organisms. Conclusion: the CO2 exposure levels that deep sea organisms can tolerate must be determined before this solution to the CO2 problem can be implemented.
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