Kīlauea volcano eruption fosters algae bloom in North Pacific Ocean

[opwieurposiu]

Pumping nutrient rich water from the deep ocean to the surface is one proposed way of increasing ocean productivity to repair fish stocks and sequester carbon.

This volcano has provided a natural demonstration of this effect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_fertilization

[LorenPechtel]

Fish, yes, but it doesn't help with global warming. The problem is that while you sequester a lot of carbon you end up converting some of the carbon from CO2 to CH4--and that's a much stronger greenhouse gas.

[catwind7]

very interesting! could someone explain why the hot water would lead to deep, cold water being brought to the surface? I thought hot water is less dense than cold water. Wouldn't it just sit on the surface for a long time?

Or is there just such a large amount of this extremely hot water that the mixing overtime generates movement across the board?

[alikim]

I think it's that, as the lava sinks to the ocean floor, it warms the colder, nutrient rich water at depth and causes it to rise.

[strmpnk]

The lava is pouring into the deeper cold water and causing it to rise. At least that’s how I read it.