Version 1
: Received: 20 August 2024 / Approved: 20 August 2024 / Online: 20 August 2024 (14:19:26 CEST)
How to cite:
Zafrilla, B.; Esclapez, J.; Matarredona, L.; Bonete, M. J.; Zafrilla, G. Phytoplankton s CO2 Sinks. Redirecting the Carbon Cycle. Preprints2024, 2024081480. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1480.v1
Zafrilla, B.; Esclapez, J.; Matarredona, L.; Bonete, M. J.; Zafrilla, G. Phytoplankton s CO2 Sinks. Redirecting the Carbon Cycle. Preprints 2024, 2024081480. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1480.v1
Zafrilla, B.; Esclapez, J.; Matarredona, L.; Bonete, M. J.; Zafrilla, G. Phytoplankton s CO2 Sinks. Redirecting the Carbon Cycle. Preprints2024, 2024081480. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1480.v1
APA Style
Zafrilla, B., Esclapez, J., Matarredona, L., Bonete, M. J., & Zafrilla, G. (2024). Phytoplankton s CO2 Sinks. Redirecting the Carbon Cycle. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1480.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Zafrilla, B., María José Bonete and Guillermo Zafrilla. 2024 "Phytoplankton s CO2 Sinks. Redirecting the Carbon Cycle" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1480.v1
Abstract
Since the Industrial Revolution, nearly 700 GtC of carbon have been emitted into the atmosphere as CO2 derived from human activities, of which 292 GtC remain uncontrolled. Furthermore, the emission rate is increasing yearly, with the latest value (2022) of 11 GtC. By the end of this century, the atmospheric CO2 concentration is predicted to surpass 700 ppm. The effects of this sudden carbon release on the worldwide biogeochemical cycles and balances are not yet fully understood, but it is undeniable that global warming and climate change are already a fact, with this gas playing a starring role. Governmental policies and international agreements on emission reduction need to produce results quickly enough, and the deadline to act is running out. Besides the agreements to reduce emissions, alternative strategies to reverse this trend must be sufficiently promoted. Biological CO2 capture is a speedy flow of the carbon cycle capable of capturing over 115 GtC annually through photosynthesis. An increase of 6.5% in this capture and the subsequent stabilization of produced biomass could counteract the current CO2 emission rate. In this overview, the artificial culture of phytoplankton is considered a potential alternative to conducting this large-scale capture. A production system model is suggested and the main technological and political challenges for using large areas as partially-natural photobioreactors are discussed. The global implementation of these large CO2 sinks and the associated infrastructure would stabilize the carbon cycle while it is developed as a new source of richness.
Keywords
Phytoplankton; Microalgae; Carbon Cycle; Global warming; Photobioreactor; Fossil fuels
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
