Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks

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dc.contributor.authorGilbert, P.
dc.contributor.authorAzanza, R.
dc.contributor.authorBurford, M.
dc.contributor.authorFuruya, K.
dc.contributor.authorAbal, E.
dc.contributor.authorAl-Azri, A.
dc.contributor.authorAl-Yamani, F.
dc.contributor.authorAndersen, P.
dc.contributor.authorAnderson, D.
dc.contributor.authorBeardall, J.
dc.contributor.authorBerg, G.
dc.contributor.authorBrand, L.
dc.contributor.authorBronk, D.
dc.contributor.authorBrookes, J.
dc.contributor.authorBurkholder, J.
dc.contributor.authorCembella, A.
dc.contributor.authorCochlan, W.
dc.contributor.authorCollier, J.
dc.contributor.authorCollos, Y.
dc.contributor.authorDiaz, R.
dc.contributor.authoret al.
dc.date.issued2008
dc.description.abstractThe proposed plan for enrichment of the Sulu Sea, Philippines, a region of rich marine biodiversity, with thousands of tonnes of urea in order to stimulate algal blooms and sequester carbon is flawed for multiple reasons. Urea is preferentially used as a nitrogen source by some cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, many of which are neutrally or positively buoyant. Biological pumps to the deep sea are classically leaky, and the inefficient burial of new biomass makes the estimation of a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere questionable at best. The potential for growth of toxic dinoflagellates is also high, as many grow well on urea and some even increase their toxicity when grown on urea. Many toxic dinoflagellates form cysts which can settle to the sediment and germinate in subsequent years, forming new blooms even without further fertilization. If large-scale blooms do occur, it is likely that they will contribute to hypoxia in the bottom waters upon decomposition. Lastly, urea production requires fossil fuel usage, further limiting the potential for net carbon sequestration. The environmental and economic impacts are potentially great and need to be rigorously assessed.
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/400/description#description
dc.identifier.citationMarine Pollution Bulletin, 2008; 56(6):1049-1056
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010
dc.identifier.issn0025-326X
dc.identifier.issn1879-3363
dc.identifier.orcidBrookes, J. [0000-0001-8408-9142]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/47707
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherPergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.03.010
dc.subjectCarbon
dc.subjectUrea
dc.subjectFertilizers
dc.subjectEcosystem
dc.subjectGreenhouse Effect
dc.subjectOceans and Seas
dc.titleOcean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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