- Previous Article
- Next Article
- Table of Contents
Energy Conversion and Management, Vol.38, S349-S354, 1997
Far-field impacts associated with ocean disposal of CO2
We present predictions of the far-field and long-term environmental impacts that might be associated with ocean disposal of CO2 using two detailed ocean circulation models. The Mesoscale Ocean Dispersion Model (MODM) simulates the transport and dispersion of injected CO2 at spatial scales between 25-2000 km, and over periods between days to 10 years. The Global Carbon Cycle Model (GCCM) predicts both the ocean distribution of CO2 and the atmospheric concentration beyond several centuries. The models have been used to evaluate differences between injection locations with regard to the short- and long-term sequestration of the injected CO2. The results presented here suggest that for injection sites along the east coast of the United States and south east of Japan, the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio, respectively, dominate the initial fate of the injected CO2, while long-term sequestration efficiencies are characterized by deep-water formation in the north Atlantic and slow diffusive upwelling in the North Pacific, respectively.