| 摘要 |
Disclosed is a methodology and a process for measuring oceanographic parameters that may be used to quantify carbon dioxide gas that is removed from the atmosphere by stimulating Phytoplankton growth in the open pelagic ocean through Ocean Iron Enrichment or other means. This process uses observations of chlorophyll to determine the photosynthetic activity of Phytoplankon in the pelagic ocean. Phytoplankton growth is inhibited in many parts of the ocean due to a limitation in critical micro-nutrients such as Iron. By restoring these micro-nutrients into nutrient deficient regions, Phytoplankton growth may be stimulated. As Phytoplankton cells grow, they photosynthesize and thus convert light and carbon dioxide into chemical energy such as glucose and release oxygen. Through predation from other organisms, a component of these phytoplankton cells fall beneath the ocean deep thermocline and thus the carbon consumed by these cells may be considered sequestered from the atmosphere. This process and methodology uses observations of chlorophyll and established conversion metrics to estimate the total quantity of carbon dioxide that is sequestered from the atmosphere, and consequently may be used to determine a metric for carbon emission reduction credits. |
