What Is The Difference Between OIF And Other Ocean Fertilization Techniques?
Ocean fertilization in general works by supplying “missing” nutrients that limit the growth of phytoplankton in any particular region of the ocean. Iron is a trace micronutrient that can stimulate a large volume of carbon uptake for a small amount of iron material added. The theoretical maximum “carbon utilization ratio” is ~100,000 atoms of carbon per atom of iron. Other fertilization techniques add nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. These have much lower ratios of carbon utilization ( ~7 atoms of C per atom of N or P), and thus a much larger volume of nutrient material is needed to stimulate an equivalent amount of carbon absorption. Some techniques, such as “Ocean Nourishment” have suggested supplying these nutrients instead of or in addition to iron. However, the larger quantity of nutrients required would make ship-based distribution more difficult, and thus commercial operations using nitrogen and/or phosphorous have typically been planned near coastal areas where pipes c
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