How to cut CO2 levels? Put the lime in the ocean, you nut

No, really. According to a report published by Physorg.com today, scientists say adding lime to seawater has the potential to dramatically reverse CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere.

Apparently adding lime to seawater increases its alkalinity, which increases seawater’s ability to absorb CO2 from the air and reducing its tendency to release CO2 back into the air. The process is supposedly “carbon negative” — processing the lime generates CO2 but adding the lime to seawater is supposed to absorb almost twice as much CO2. The people behind the project have a page where they explain their idea.

As I look around the site, it seems like a very interesting concept. My question — one that I think needs to be answered — is this: How will increasing the oceans’ alkalinity affect sea life? We do know that ocean acidification (due to the volume of CO2 being absorbed from the atmosphere already) is already harming sea life; perhaps judiciously adding lime to the oceans will help in that area as well.

Discussion of the issue is ongoing at Slashdot. The project’s homepage is here (but of course, it’s slashdotted so be patient), and the fact that it’s open source will appeal to some of you.