Carbon capture, ocean acidification and agriculture
How can agriculture become part of the solution as opposed to the problem?
Olivine is a magnesium iron silicate mineral that can be used as a soil conditioner for agriculture. The cost is approximately $35 per tonne supplied as a sand/powder.
1000 kg to 2000 kg of olivine should be spread on 1 acre every 2 to 3 years; every tonne will absorb 1000 kg of carbon dioxide, making this approach as economic in comparison to most carbon capture technologies; however, there are added benefits.
The olivine helps improve soil condition and improves yield for the farmer. The mineral will slowly dissolve, and some will get washed out of the soil into rivers and then eventually the sea. The ferric silicate mineral will help promote the growth of good phytoplankton called diatoms, even if the water is loaded with nutrients. The olivine prevents the risk of toxic dinoflagellate algal blooms.
The diatoms are plants, and they will absorb a huge amount of carbon; for every 1000 kg of olivine, the diatoms could sequester 100,000 kg of carbon. But that’s not all… The diatoms produce omega-3 oils that form a film on the surface of the ocean. This film is called the SML surface micro layer. The SML forms a biogenic aerosol that nucleates water vapour to form clouds, which help reflect energy. Water vapour accounts for 75% of all greenhouse carbon, so temperature also drops and the climate becomes more stable.
I recommend that governments subsidise farms to use more olivine; this could be one of the easiest ways to fight climate change and restore marine life.
bioclimatic report; https://lnkd.in/ecHxFCRJ
Below is a photo of a diatom, a silicon- and carbon-based phytoplankton. There are around 40 gigatonnes in the world’s oceans, doubling in biomass every 1 to 2 days. The mass of carbon as C, approx 0.5 gigatonnes, or 10 days’ production, equates to 100% of anthropogenic carbon, nature provides the solutions.
Link to Linkedin Post and comments; https://www.linkedin.com/posts/goesfoundation_a-no-cost-solution-for-climate-disruption-activity-7385449867365765120-Rw0C?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAOQu-oB7hEBm20JEG4zlqSiL7lBeHCWG2A
