And the technology necessary to make it happen already exists, said Juerg Matter, a geologist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. To begin with, he said, it is currently possible to capture carbon dioxide at large-scale power plants. And oil companies sometimes inject the gas into depleted oil reserves to get more oil out. Matter is working on a technique to inject ultramific rocks with carbon dioxide as a warming-mitigating strategy. The potential is significant, he said, because these rocks exist all over the world, from Oman to Papa New Guinea to the Balkan states of Europe. But turning potential into reality will require more research and more efficiency. At this point, capturing and storing carbon are wasteful, energy-intensive processes. Scientists will also need to make sure that the carbon doesn't leak out of the rocks after it has been injected. "Globally, we emit 25 to 30 million tons of carbon dioxide each year," Matter said. "These rocks could have a significant impact in the reduction of these emissions." Related Links: Discovery Earth: Video, Expert Interviews, Photos and More Discovery Tech My Take: We Need to Bury Emissions Columbia University's Earth Institute |
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