Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement

Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a form of abiotic marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR).

This method involves the addition of alkaline materials to seawater to accelerate the ocean’s natural carbon uptake. Natural carbon uptake occurs when carbon dioxide from the air dissolves in seawater, and then combines with molecules already in the water to form bicarbonate and carbonate molecules, which are stable forms of carbon that do not re-enter the atmosphere. Adding alkalinity can increase the rate at which this process occurs, in turn enabling the ocean to absorb more CO2 from the air to restore equilibrium. 

This method is in the research stage currently, and is not yet implemented at scale as a climate solution.