Side effects
EAMO has more than one effect (methane removal) on the atmosphere.
Beneficial side effects
1. EAMO removes ozone from the troposphere.
Ozone is better known in the stratosphere, because that´s where the ozone layer was (and still is somewhat) affected in the beginning of the century. However ozone also exists in the troposphere, and here it has considerable warming power. Ozone concentration is strongly associated with methane, so depleting methane will lower ozone concentration (15).
2. EAMO contributes to ocean or land fertilization.
Iron is a great fertilizer, it works on land as well as in the ocean. Fertilization causes more plants or algae to grow, and hence more consumption of CO2. More phytoplankton helps to grow fish stocks in iron-poor water. This is why we prefer iron-poor regions of the ocean for locating the MRP.
Both side-effects are beneficial, in that they contribute to cooling down the planet.
Negative side effects
EAMO has no negative side effects we are aware of.
Some scientists have said in the past that iron can contribute to the acidification of the oceans. However this was based on trials where iron was dumped into the sea from a ship and was therefore concentrated in a single location. A MRP will distribute ISA over thousands of square kilometers so no more than 0.5 mg / m2 / day on average will ever reach the ocean surface or the land.
We plan to measure the effects of ISA during a one-year testphase which we will conduct once the MRP is operational. Before that happens we will conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which will weigh all consequences of EAMO.
It goes without saying that AMR will always fulfil all legal requirements which affect the operation of an MRP.
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