Usually what we cannot see, we do not recognize as a potential solution. It has been the same with under-sea vegetation, the slimy seaweed and algae is now being recognized as a strong weapon against global warming.
A group of scientists at a climate conference in Bali believe that this vegetation is capable of sucking damaging carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere at rates comparable to the mightiest rain forests.
The seaweed research is currently being backed by scientists in 12 countries. Supporters of this research opine that the brisk pace of photosynthesis of algae make it an excellent instrument to be used for carbon absorption.
Seaweed and algae are effective ‘carbon sinks’. Carbon sinks soak up more carbon than they emit. They are considered essential to controlling greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and are blamed for global warming. The concept of carbon sinks is based on the natural ability of trees, other plants and the soil to soak up carbon dioxide and temporarily store the carbon in wood, roots, leaves and the soil.
The conference in Bali is aimed at launching two-year negotiations for a new global warming pact to replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012, and using the earth’s natural resources to remove carbon from the air is a major topic of discussion.
Like every nascent research, this research too is not free from skepticism. The primary problem is that seaweed is cultivated and harvested in cycles of only months, which means the storage will be hard to measure or control.
Image Credit: Deeknow
Source: Yahoo! News