This webinar, co-hosted by the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy and the Environmental the Policy & Culture Program at Northwestern University will examine the prospects for two potential ocean-based carbon removal approaches, artificial ocean upwelling and downwelling, to effectuate large-scale sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Artificial Ocean Upwelling refers to approaches that seek to boost primary production of marine organisms that take up carbon dioxide, including phytoplankton and macroalgae, by moving nutrient-rich waters upward in the water column. Brian von Herzen, Executive Director of the Climate Foundation, will make the case that marine permaculture can help to restore natural upwelling using marine solar, wave and wind energy, as well as providing co-benefits, including improved food security.

Artificial Ocean Downwelling refers to approaches that can enhance downward transport of cold CO2-saturated surface waters for storage up to hundreds to thousands of years. David Koweek, Science Director of Ocean Visions, will cover the fundamental principles, state of the technology, critical obstacles, development needs, and near-term opportunities for artificial downwelling. Furthermore, he will discuss policy and governance gaps for this technology in need of development.

Panelists:

Dr. Brian von Herzen obtained his A.B. in Physics, Magna Cum Laude, from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in Computer and Planetary Science from Caltech where he was the recipient of the prestigious Hertz Fellowship. While at Princeton, Brian spent four years working closely with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. At Princeton, his dissertation on global climate models demonstrated how changes in the Earth’s orbit affects climate. During his Caltech years Brian worked on models of the overabundance of carbon in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Little did he know that a decade later we would have to solve this problem for the Earth’s atmosphere. From these experiences, he acquired a detailed understanding of the Earth’s carbon cycle and has envisioned sustainable approaches to restoring carbon balance in our atmosphere.

Dr. David Koweek is the Science Director of Ocean Visions, where is responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the science underpinning Ocean Visions activities. David is trained as an oceanographer and marine scientist. He has led and participated in field expeditions all across the world, including on the Great Barrier Reef, the Ross Sea, the California coast, the Sargasso Sea, and natural carbon dioxide vents off Italy. An expert in evaluating the geophysical potential of various ocean solutions, David is a frequent participant in research conferences and expert-level panels, including recent panels for the Energy Futures Initiative, the Foundation for Climate Restoration, and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. His scholarly works have been published in top-tier journals, including Nature. Prior to his role with Ocean Visions, David was a postdoctoral research scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a B.S. from Brown University.

Moderator: Wil Burns, Visiting Professor, Environmental Policy & Culture Program, Northwestern University