2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting

February 21-26

Large-scale geoengineering approaches may produce substantial societal benefits. However, to date it is unclear if potential benefits would outweigh possible negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, a cautious approach to geoengineering must be taken because altering the ocean-atmosphere system may have unexpected consequences. The potential to help society mitigate climate change versus the inherent risks of negative impacts require adequate research. The US National Academy of Sciences has recently concluded “…that with proper governance, which it said needed to be developed, and other safeguards, such experiments should pose no significant risk.” This session, in addition to “traditional” geoengineering options, including capturing and storing some carbon dioxide and reflecting more sunlight to outer space, will consider the options relating to the ocean and air-sea interface.

Further topics include but are not limited to:

• Advances in the methodology of artificial upwelling with potential applications in marine aquaculture and fisheries;
• Ocean iron fertilization for CO₂ sequestration;
• Cooling the ocean for hurricane mitigation and climate modification.

The latter is an interesting but more questionable approach, which however could become more effective in combination with solar radiation management and CO₂ sequestration.

• A - Air-sea Interactions and Upper Ocean Processes
• B - Biogeochemistry and Nutrients
• PC - Past, Present and Future Climate
• PO - Physical Oceanography/Ocean Circulation