CO2 Sequestration in “Blue Carbon” Systems: Research Progress on the Synergy between Ocean CO2 Storage and Coastal Blue Carbon

Abstract

The carbon dioxide content in our atmosphere is increasing rapidly. This means that we need better methods to capture and store carbon, and these solutions can work effectively for many years and can be scaled up to a larger scale. Among the various technologies that can be used to reduce carbon emissions, traditional carbon capture and storage methods show promising potential. These methods can reduce carbon emissions by billions of tons every year. However, we need to understand their limitations. These systems require large amounts of energy to operate, and the safety of long term carbon storage remains questionable. In contrast, nature itself offers a powerful solution through the blue carbon ecosystem. Coastal environments such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows have demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in capturing and storing carbon. This work explores how carbon capture systems and natural blue carbon environments can work effectively together. Marine carbon sequestration solutions represented by seabed carbon dioxide storage and Marine alkalization enhancement technologies can achieve the goal of rapid and large-scale carbon removal. Meanwhile, the unique anoxic sedimentary environment and vigorous biological activities in the blue carbon ecological zone jointly enhance the stability of carbon storage, effectively reduces the possibility of leakage, and improves the ecosystem's resilience to environmental pressure. The experimental research results further confirm that in an environment with moderate increased carbon dioxide concentration, the primary productivity of ecosystems such as seagrass beds and mangroves has been significantly enhanced. This discovery provides a new idea for improving the carbon sequestration effect.