Diagnosing the Problem

An Assessment of the Potential Value for Climate Remediation of Ocean Calcifiers in Sequestration of Atmospheric Carbon

“…As the ocean absorbs about 30% of the CO2 released into the atmosphere [53], the source of both of those hydrogencarbonate ions is atmospheric CO2, either through CO2 reacting with water to form carbonic acid (which dissociates), or from metabolism of food-derived organic carbon (ALL of which on this planet is derived from photosynthetic fixation of atmospheric CO2). Hence, Reaction 1 (scheme above) can be expressed as 2 atmospheric carbons + calcium ⇌ one precipitated carbon + one potentially atmospheric carbon.…”

“…Arithmetically, this cannot be claimed as a net return of CO2 to the atmosphere. Using only the stoichiometry of Reaction 1 to evaluate carbon fluxes gives a false impression and merely tells a small part of the story [53]. www.videleaf.com…”

“…For several reasons, therefore, but principally the wide distribution of carbonic anhydrases and the intimate connection of molecules having this enzymic activity with the structural assembly of the crystals that make up shell material, calcifying organisms will make no return of CO2 to the open atmosphere from their calcifying activities, but only controlled emissions of metabolic wastes, like CO2, to their local aqueous environment. Mussels on their rocky shore would fizz like sparkling wine if such calcification-related atmospheric emission really happened [53].…”