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Long-term response of oceans to CO2 removal from the atmosphere

Author

Listed:
  • Sabine Mathesius

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, PO Box 60 12 03
    GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20 24105 Kiel, Germany)

  • Matthias Hofmann

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, PO Box 60 12 03)

  • Ken Caldeira

    (Carnegie Institution for Science)

  • Hans Joachim Schellnhuber

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, PO Box 60 12 03
    Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, USA)

Abstract

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere has been proposed as a measure for mitigating global warming and ocean acidification. To assess the extent to which CDR might eliminate the long-term consequences of anthropogenic CO2 emissions in the marine environment, we simulate the effect of two massive CDR interventions with CO2 extraction rates of 5 GtC yr−1 and 25 GtC yr−1, respectively, while CO2 emissions follow the extended RCP8.5 pathway. We falsify two hypotheses: the first being that CDR can restore pre-industrial conditions in the ocean by reducing the atmospheric CO2 concentration back to its pre-industrial level, and the second being that high CO2 emissions rates (RCP8.5) followed by CDR have long-term oceanic consequences that are similar to those of low emissions rates (RCP2.6). Focusing on pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen, we find that even after several centuries of CDR deployment, past CO2 emissions would leave a substantial legacy in the marine environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabine Mathesius & Matthias Hofmann & Ken Caldeira & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, 2015. "Long-term response of oceans to CO2 removal from the atmosphere," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(12), pages 1107-1113, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:5:y:2015:i:12:d:10.1038_nclimate2729
    DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2729
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    Cited by:

    1. Jörg Schwinger & Ali Asaadi & Nadine Goris & Hanna Lee, 2022. "Possibility for strong northern hemisphere high-latitude cooling under negative emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Carl-Friedrich Schleussner & Joeri Rogelj & Michiel Schaeffer & Tabea Lissner & Rachel Licker & Erich M. Fischer & Reto Knutti & Anders Levermann & Katja Frieler & William Hare, 2016. "Science and policy characteristics of the Paris Agreement temperature goal," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(9), pages 827-835, September.
    3. EdwardA. Parson & HollyJ. Buck, 2020. "Large-Scale Carbon Dioxide Removal: The Problem ofPhasedown," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 20(3), pages 70-92, August.

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