The idea is deceptively simple: by diluting extremely basic chemicals in the waters, they're looking to increase the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the air above, a process known as ocean alkalinity enhancement .
It's just one of several geoengineering efforts aimed at slowing the advancement of climate change, but whether these efforts will pay off in the long run remains to be seen — and critics remain skeptical and concerned about theThe team of Woods Hole researchers maintains that the sodium hydroxide won't have any lasting negative effects on marine life.
"We care about the environment, too," co-principal investigator and recently retired Woods Hole scientist Dan McCorkle told. "We wouldn't be doing this if we thought there was going to be a big impact ."releasing aerosolized particlesOAE on the other hand aims to slow down the oceans' waning ability to absorb human-induced CO2 emissions.
to the EPA that more work needs to be done "before truckloads of liquid alkaline can be dumped in the ocean."