A Reverse to Global Warming? Contaversial Experimentation is on the Job!

 Theo DeFuria     Per: 2     10/22/12

 Fountain, Henry. "Iron-Dumping Experiment in Pacific Alarms Marine Experts." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/science/earth/iron-dumping-experiment-in-pacific-alarms-marine-experts.html?ref=science>.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/science/earth/iron-dumping-experiment-in-pacific-alarms-marine-experts.html?ref=science

          Summary:  This article presents an ongoing history of the scientific dispute about an iron-dumping experiment.  It explains what an organization centered in British Columbia and Canada is doing in a foolish attempt to reduce global warming and improve the salmon market in Canada.

          The organization dumped 100 tons of iron dust into the ocean, without any kind of scientific or governmental permission.  Their goal was to start a major increase in plankton population, which would start a chain of reactions.  Plankton take in carbon dioxide.  They hoped that the higher plankton population would take in more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore reduce the greenhouse effect.

          Some scientist view this experiment as foolish, unscientific, and irresponsible.  Experimentation with the environment is very risky as they could seriously alter ecosystems in a negative way.  The scientists claim that the organizations performed their experiment without sufficient consideration about what side effects may occur.  These consider this "iron fertilization" as "geoengineering".  Geoengineering is the science of attempting to reduce and reverse climate change.

          Relevance:  We learned about ecosystems and how fragile their structure and dynamics can be.  We also learned about the greenhouse effect, and global warming.  This article relates to these subjects because it explains how introducing large amounts of iron into the ocean can change an ecosystem greatly and also affect the ecosystems around it.  The added iron causes plankton population to rise, which creates more food for salmon and other fish.  These fish also rise in population, with the same effect for larger fish.  On a different note, the increase in plankton could also decrease carbon dioxide in the air.  Carbon dioxide is a main cause of the greenhouse effect, which traps heat in earths atmosphere.  This causes the climate to change.  With less carbon dioxide there will be less heat trapped and therefore a cooler worldwide climate.  The climate would change, even if it only changes marginally.

 Works Consulted

Fountain, Henry. "Iron-Dumping Experiment in Pacific Alarms Marine Experts." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/science/earth/iron-dumping-experiment-in-pacific-alarms-marine-experts.html?ref=science>.