Abstract
The disposal of captured fossil fuel CO_2 in the deep ocean, has been suggested as one means of ameliorating the global warming. We describe designed to study OACE (Ocean Abyssal Carbon Experiments). Observations from small scale (20 - 90 liters) CO_2 experiments conducted off the coast of California at 684 m depth and at 3942 m depth are discussed. In both experiments, when the seawater velocity was sufficiently strong, parcels of liquid CO_2 were torn off and transported away as discrete units by the turbulent water current. In the deep experiment, newly formed frazil hydrate was observed at the interface, occasionally including sediment particles. Hydrate furthermore collected and created a floating consolidated solid in the downstream end of the trough used to simulate the dented ocean floor in the 3942 m experiment, dissolving slowly from one day to the next. These observations have important implications for understanding of larger scale disposal at the seafloor.
