Carbon Dioxide Removal - NOAA Ocean Acidification Program

Carbon Dioxide Removal - NOAA Ocean Acidification Program
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Carbon Dioxide Removal
Mitigating Ocean Acidification
View NOAA’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Research Strategy >
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What is Carbon Dioxide Removal?
Carbon dioxide removal aims to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it on land, underground, or in the ocean.
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) aims to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it long-term underground or in the ocean.
There are many techniques and strategies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, some of which operate on land whereas others are in the ocean. Ocean-based methods are often referred to as marine CDR (mCDR). These techniques differ in their readiness for deployment and there are many unknowns about scalability, effectiveness, cost, and social and ecological impacts.
View
ocean-based CDR techniques
View
land-based and other CDR techniques
NOAA’s CDR Research Strategy
presents the benefits and risks of different land-based and ocean-based techniques and NOAA assets available to assess them.
Marine CDR & Ocean Acidification
Some of the proposed mCDR approaches may have potential to mitigate ocean acidification. Learn more about how mCDR and ocean acidification are related and these approaches.
How is marine CDR related to Ocean Acidification?
While emissions reductions are the most
direct, reliable
lasting
, and effective way to mitigate ocean acidification, CDR methods that lower the concentration of CO
in the atmosphere also have the potential to slow it. Some marine CDR methods may also improve local ocean conditions that support ecosystems and economies.
Image Credit: OAP
Leveraging existing processes
Several existing processes in wastewater treatment facilities, golf courses and coastal management could be augmented to also draw down carbon dioxide. Leveraging these resources and processes can buffer local effects of ocean acidification. NOAA’s ecological monitoring and research programs can help answer questions of effectiveness and scale for these approaches.
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
Alkalinity Enhancement
Alkalinity enhancement
aims to increase the ocean’s CO
storage capacity by changing the chemistry of the sea water to encourage greater absorption of CO
from the atmosphere. This method converts CO
to stable carbonate forms, which reduces ocean acidification. It could be a valuable, albeit slow, acidification mitigation mechanism, but many unknowns around these techniques remain. NOAA has a well demonstrated ability to detect changes in ocean alkalinity and ocean carbon content on broad scales that can help evaluate concerns around these approaches.
Image Credit: Sarah Battle, NOAA
Kelp Farming & Afforestation
Kelp farming or ocean afforestation
uses the fast growth of kelp or other algae to capture CO
from surface waters, potentially mitigating ocean acidification. Carbon in kelp tissue would then be stored in ocean sediments when kelp sinks to the bottom. While this may be a natural process to efficiently capture CO
, it may only have local or seasonal mitigating effects or benefits over short timescales. This approach may risk displacing existing phytoplankton productivity or produce other negative biogeochemical
impacts
. NOAA can provide modeling and observing capacity to assist siting and help answer questions about sequestration, storage, and impacts.
Image Credit: Ron Gatreau, GreenWave
Valuable on Multiple Timescales
Even short-term or local-scale carbon removal could provide valuable benefits during times of heightened sensitivity by marine life or during episodic events. The scale, timing, and approach to carbon removal determines how effective it is at mitigating ocean acidification. NOAA has demonstrated expertise and assets to address many unknowns around the potential of ocean acidification mitigation by CDR.
Image Credit: Brian Cluer, WCR, CCO
NOAA's Investment in CDR Research
Why is NOAA investing in CDR research?
NOAA’s existing observational network and research programs position it to lead
in the analysis of impact, effectiveness, feasibility, and risk of many CDR
techniques. NOAA was created more than 50 years ago to study linkages
between the ocean and atmosphere. Assessing the effectiveness of CDR
approaches is directly related to its mission.
Read the Key Messages (PDF)
Voluntary carbon markets are increasing in value and there is potential for CDR to become over a trillion dollar industry by 2050.
Private industry is moving forward with carbon dioxide removal pilots.
NOAA serves as a trusted agency to research and monitor efforts that can de-risk and provide integrity to this emerging market
NOAA’s emphasis on big-picture, long-term monitoring and its existing research capabilities are ideally suited to understand, evaluate, and verify public and private entities’ exploration of CDR efforts and their potential for success.
NOAA's existing mandates, programs, and activities already intersect with CDR research.
Strategy for NOAA Carbon Dioxide Removal Research
NOAA’s CDR research strategy outlines what we know about existing technologies and what we need to learn to make the best decisions moving forward to meet climate goals with these approaches.
NOAA can contribute to advancing our understanding through:
Coastal observing networks and data assimilation
Modeling, scaling & projecting CDR pathways
Ecosystem research & assessing impacts
Decision support
Carbon Dioxide Removal Projects
Click here to Read about recent mCDR projects.
Click here to view mCDR Projects
Carbon capture and ocean acidification mitigation potential by seaweed farms in tropical and subtropical coastal environments
PI(s): Andreas Andersson
Fiscal Year Funded: 2023, 2024, 2025
Grant Award # NA23OAR0170512
Partners:
Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Sunburst Sensors
This project will explore the carbon capture capacity and ocean acidification mitigation in three operational seaweed farms in Florida and Okinawa, Japan...
Project Summary >
Multiscale observing system simulation experiments for iron fertilization in the Southern Ocean, Equatorial Pacific, and Northeast Pacific
PI(s): Dennis McGillicuddy
Fiscal Year Funded: 2023, 2024, 2025
Grant Award # NA23OAR0170514
Partners:
National Center For Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
This project will address the effectiveness of ocean iron fertilization as a carbon dioxide removal technique, identify potential unintended ecological consequences, and determine the necessary systems for monitoring carbon and..
Project Summary >
Electrolysis-driven weathering of basic minerals for long-term ocean buffering and CO2 reduction
PI(s): Burke Hales
Fiscal Year Funded: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Grant Award # NA23OAR0170506
Partners:
Oregon State University
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)
This project aims to demonstrate proof-of-concept that alkalinity addition and wave power systems could be used in tandem. The work will also informs a regulatory roadmap to highlight existing research..
Project Summary >
Carbon Dioxide Removal Resources
Fact Sheets
Carbon Dioxide Removal Fact Sheet
This State of the Science fact sheet explains the current status of carbon dioxide removal and various approaches to accomplish it.
Download Resource
View More CDR Fact ShEETS
Reports
Workshop on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (Outputs from 2024 Meeting)
Strategy for NOAA Carbon Dioxide Removal Research
View More CDR Reports
CDR Graphics Gallery
This gallery is a collection of graphics from the NOAA Carbon Dioxide Removal Research Strategy that demonstrate various approaches of carbon dioxide removal.
View CDR Gallery
Other Resources
2024 NOPP mCDR Meeting: Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV) Panel
2024 NOPP mCDR Meeting: Permitting Panel
2024 NOPP mCDR Meeting: Data Management Panel
2024 NOPP mCDR Meeting: Social and Ethical Considerations
View More CDR Resources
What's New
See our most recent news related to carbon dioxide removal.
NOAA, DFO Canada report on cross-border ocean acidification mitigation research
A new technical report published by the Fisheries and Ocean Canada and NOAA summarizes our knowledge gaps regarding the potential of blue carbon to mitigate coastal ocean acidification in shared waters.
Read More »
December 4, 2025
Webinar: Efficacy of wasterwater ocean alkalinity enhancement
NOAA Library Seminars presents a research update around the efficacy of wastewater ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) for mitigating local ocean and coastal acidification.
Read More »
November 17, 2025
Job opportunities: 4 data synthesis postdoctoral positions
NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program seeks qualified candidates for four postdoctoral positions to synthesize data in the major areas of the program’s investments.
Read More »
October 28, 2024
Get involved with ocean acidification
The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program exists to meet the ocean acidification research and monitoring needs of the U.S. See how you can get involved to serve your community and participate in cutting-edge research and education and outreach.
Current Funding Opportunities
Bioeconomic modeling to inform Alaska fisheries management
Image credit: Allen Shimada, NOAA NMFS
Bioeconomic models are a multidisciplinary tool that use oceanography, fisheries science and social science to assess socioeconomic impacts. Funded by the Ocean Acidification Program, researchers at the
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
use a bioeconomic model to study the impacts of ocean acidification on Eastern Bering Sea crab, northern rock sole and Alaska cod. The goal is to predict how ocean acidification will affect abundance yields and income generated by the fisheries. This work informs the potential economic impacts of ocean acidification and future decision making and research planning.
More about this work
Effects of ocean acidification and temperature on Alaskan crabs
Image credit: David Csepp, NMFS AKFSC ABL
Long-term declines of red king crab in Bristol Bay, Alaska may be partially attributed to ocean acidification conditions. These impacts may be partially responsible for the fishery closures during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons. Researchers found that ocean acidification negatively impacts Alaskan crabs generally by changing physiological processes, decreasing growth, increasing death rates and reducing shell thickness. Funded by the Ocean Acidification Program, scientists at the
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
continue to investigate the responses of early life history stages and study the potential of various Alaska crabs to acclimate to changing conditions. Results will inform models that will use the parameters studied to predict the effects of future ocean acidification on the populations of red king crab in Bristol Bay as well as on the fisheries that depend on them. Fishery managers will better be able to anticipate and manage stocks if changing ocean chemistry affects stock productivity and thus the maximum sustainable yield.
More about this work
Forecasts for Alaska Fisheries
Image credit: Michael Theberge
Understanding seasonal changes in ocean acidification in Alaskan waters and the potential impacts to the multi-billion-dollar fishery sector is a main priority. Through work funded by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, the
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
developed a model capable of depicting past ocean chemistry conditions for the Bering Sea and is now testing the ability of this model to forecast future conditions. This model is being used to develop an ocean acidification indicator provided to fisheries managers in the annual NOAA
Eastern Bering Sea Ecosystem Status Report
ADAPTING TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) works to prepare society to adapt to the consequences of ocean acidification and conserve marine ecosystems as acidification occurs. Learn more about the
human connections and adaptation strategies
from these efforts.
Adaptation approaches fostered by the OAP include:
FORECASTING
Using models and research to understand the sensitivity of organisms and ecosystems to ocean acidification to make predictions about the future, allowing communities and industries to prepare
MANAGEMENT
Using these models and predictions as tools to facilitate management strategies that will protect marine resources and communities from future changes
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Developing innovative tools to help monitor ocean acidification and mitigate changing ocean chemistry locally
REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
50 more ways to reduce your carbon footprint >
On the Road
Drive fuel-efficient vehicles or choose public transportation. Choose your bike or walk!
Don't sit idle for more than 30 seconds.
Keep your tires properly inflated.
With your Food Choices
Eat local- this helps cut down on production and transport! Reduce your meat and dairy. Compost to avoid food waste ending up in the landfill
With your Food Choices
Make energy-efficient choices for your appliances and lighting. Heat and cool efficiently! Change your air filters and program your thermostat, seal and insulate your home, and support clean energy sources
By Reducing Coastal Acidification
Reduce your use of fertilizers, Improve sewage treatment and run off, and Protect and restore coastal habitats
TAKE ACTION WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
You've taken the first step to learn more about ocean acidification - why not spread this knowledge to your community?
Every community has their unique culture, economy and ecology and what’s at stake from ocean acidification may be different depending on where you live.  As a community member, you can take a larger role in educating the public about ocean acidification. Creating awareness is the first step to taking action.  As communities gain traction, neighboring regions that share marine resources can build larger coalitions to address ocean acidification.  Here are some ideas to get started:
Work with informal educators, such as aquarium outreach programs and local non-profits, to teach the public about ocean acidification. Visit our
Education & Outreach
page to find the newest tools!
Participate in habitat restoration efforts to restore habitats that help mitigate the effects of coastal acidification
Facilitate conversations with local businesses that might be affected by ocean acidification, building a plan for the future.
Partner with local community efforts to mitigate the driver behind ocean acidification  – excess CO2 – such as community supported agriculture, bike & car shares and other public transportation options.
Contact your regional
Coastal Acidification Network (CAN)
to learn how OA is affecting your region and more ideas about how you can get involved in your community
More for
Taking Community Action