Our latest interim report, Comparing Biomass-Sediment Configurations: Decomposition and Environmental Effects of Biomass on and within Anoxic Marine Sediments, , marks an exciting milestone in our journey to mitigate the climate crisis. This is the first report of a 3-year study to investigate how woody biomass behaves when embedded in sediment, resting on sediment surfaces, or positioned floating in the anoxic water.
The experiment replicates real-world conditions by using sediment collected from the seafloor, salinity-adjusted anoxic seawater, and carefully measured biomass configurations. Advanced methods like dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) analyses are providing critical insights into the geochemical processes that drive carbon preservation.
Some highlights from the report include:
- The meticulous setup of 144 sealed microcosms to simulate different biomass-sediment configurations.
- Tracking changes in water chemistry, such as alkalinity and methane concentrations, to better understand the interactions between biomass and its environment.
- A phenomenal relationship between alkalinity and DIC, revealing information on the microbial activity behind the scenes.
This research is refining our understanding of the stability and permanence of carbon stored in oxygen-free environments. It’s a vital step in scaling up marine terrestrial biomass storage as a safe and effective way to reduce atmospheric CO₂ and combat climate change.
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