Germany OKs Atlantic global warming experiment
January 26, 2009
This undated handout picture from Alfred Wegener Institut shows German research and supply vessel Polarstern having docked on the sea ice to unload at the Atka-Bay in the Antarctica. Germany dropped its opposition Monday to a controversial experiment to dump iron sulphate in the South Atlantic to see if it can absorb greenhouse gases and possibly help to halt global warming.
Germany dropped its opposition Monday to a controversial experiment to dump iron sulphate in the South Atlantic to see if it can absorb greenhouse gases and possibly help to halt global warming.
Content from AFP expires 1 month after original publication date. For more information about AFP, please visit www.afp.com .
Similar stories from PHYSorg:
Iron controls patterns of nitrogen fixation in the Atlantic
Nov 02, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
0
Interactions with Aerosols Boost Warming Potential of Some Gases
Oct 29, 2009 |
3.2 / 5 (5) |
0
Obama team: US needs bill to lead in clean energy
Oct 28, 2009 |
2.3 / 5 (3) |
0
UN signals delay in new climate change treaty
Oct 27, 2009 |
1 / 5 (1) |
0
Volcanoes played pivotal role in ancient ice age, mass extinction
Oct 26, 2009 |
4.6 / 5 (14) |
3



if science shows it could do the trick, and its been proven this dissolved iron can help produce more of these creatures they speak of. then only an idiot would refute the facts and opppose it.
now i say that, but would love to hear any FACTS that object this and could result in some catasrophe.
"Sufficiently advanced ignorance is nearly indistinguishable from malice.."
If they weren't dumping iron sulphate you'd have a point. Iron sulphate FeSO4 breaks down into SO3 and Fe2O3, rust and Sulphur Trioxide. When added to water Sulphur Trioxide turns into H2SO4, sulphuric acid. SO3 is a primary constituent of acid rain by itself as it's introduced to water in the upper atmosphere. Those worried about further acidification are well within reason to object to this experiment.
Personally I take a more straight forward objection to the experiment. It goes like this:
Fighting pollution by dumping industrial waste into the ocean is an idiotic idea. Especially when the pollution in question is an inert, biologically created gas required for photosynthesis. Removing CO2 from the ocean will have a great effect on the seas ability to sustain plant life required to sustain the rest of the food chain.
As for acidification, I agree that is should be a major concern as both halves of the moleecules will absorb -OHs by forming FeOH2 and HSO4(-). This will locally change the pH, maybe causing damaging shocks to the local ecosystem before the stuff disapates and buffers return the pH to normal.
What a way to replace a minor environmental concern with a potentially massive environmental disaster.