The ocean, covering 70% oh Earth’s surface, already plays an important ecological role. In fact, it absorbs 25% of total CO2 in the atmosphere. However, it is acidifying, and rising temperatures are reducing its absorption capacity.
Basically, scientists installed a new technology in the port of Los Angeles, which pumps in seawater and subjects it to an electrical charge. It converts CO2 dissolved in the seawater into a fine white powder containing calcium carbonate, the compound found in chalk, limestone and oyster or mussel shells.
This powder can be discarded back into the ocean, where it remains in solid form storing CO2. Meanwhile, the pumped water returns to the sea, ready to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
By taking out the carbon dioxide, these scientists are renewing the capacity of the ocean to take additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.