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Diagram of giant plastic tubes proposal.

Diagram of giant plastic tubes proposal.
Diagram of giant plastic tubes proposal.
Diagram of giant plastic tubes proposal.
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175859
Cook, John E.
Diagram of giant plastic tubes proposal.
Illustration
12/26/2007
graphics-oceanusV46n1-OceanTubes_Illustration.jpg
Caption from Oceanus magazine, Vol. 46, No. 1, Pg. 26:
TUBING THE OCEAN–Increasing urgency about climate change has spurred proposals, which may have seemed radical not too long ago, to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. In a recent issue of the journal Nature, scientists James Lovelock and Chris Rapley proposed putting thousands of giant plastic tubes in the ocean (see next page). Wave motion and a one-way valve would push deep water through the tubes to the surface, bringing up essential nutrients to stimulate blooms of tiny marine plants. These phytoplankton would help draw down heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the air and also emit a chemical called dimethyl sulfide, which stimulates the formation of clouds that would block solar radiation and help cool the planet, the scientists say.
Illustration by Jack Cook
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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