Ocean Acidification
Our goal is to balance out the acidic levels of the ocean to support marine life. The increase in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has resulted in excess absorption by our ocean, which negatively impacts marine animals and plants. Our idea will use a machine, the Tortinator 9000, to efficiently disperse alkaline materials in heavily acidic areas of the ocean. The Tortinator will find and track areas of the water with low pH levels and travel to these areas to help neutralize the waters. When the area is neutralized to a better state, the Tortinator can find a new area of low pH. This will help struggling marine life thrive in their natural habitats and help return ocean environments.
The ocean’s acidification, or a lowering of the pH, is caused by excess carbon dioxide absorption. In more recent years, too much carbon dioxide has been released into our atmosphere due to deforestation and greenhouse gasses, which get taken in by our oceans. Carbon dioxide increases the acidification by creating carbonic acid, which can be very harmful for marine life. To combat this issue, we want to disperse alkaline materials to balance out the pH of the ocean.
SOCIAL CONTEXT
The social context of our product is based around carbon dioxide absorption into the oceans. Right now, our oceans pH level is at 8.1, 0.1 lower than it was before.. OUr goal is to restore this number in targeted areas such as coral reefs and coastal areas. Once we do this, the restoration of ecosystems will be easier and more guaranteed because the climate that these animals are already accustomed to will be restored. This in turn will allow for fish industries that sell mollusks, crabs, lobsters, mussels, and more be able to grow in productivity as the ecosystems where they live will be restored. The restoration will also allow for tourism to increase in coastal areas where sight seeing of sea animals is popular. As for the funding for our project, it would most likely come from fundraising and government funds, that means taxes from you guys!
Ocean acidification impacting on marine life and New England’s shellfish industry
CO2 absorption decreases in the ocean
pH level of 8.1
GOAL: increase by 0.1 for targeted areas
Restoration of ecosystems
Apt climates will allow for species in danger to survive
Economical impact
Fish industries grows in productivity
Tourism- people travelling to see sea creatures
Expenses
Fundraising
Government funds (taxes)
The Science
Oceans are incredibly important. There is biodiversity, oxygen production, it supports people (e.g., source of medicine, food) and it affects our climate.
Oceans are carbon sinks–they absorb about 30% of CO₂ gas released into the atmosphere
More CO₂ gas in the atmosphere results in higher CO₂ concentrations in the ocean
Starting in the early 1800s, CO2 emissions dramatically increased when the Industrial Revolution began burning fossil fuels in mass amounts. From the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuel emissions have only increased with the introduction of new technology. Not only is this greenhouse gas causing warming of the globe, but other adverse effects to our oceans are resulting from the abundance of CO₂ in the atmosphere. The relationship between CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere and the water; as CO₂ gas in our atmosphere increases, the CO₂ in the oceans also increases.
Carbon dioxide is absorbed by water and form carbonic acid
CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃
Carbonic acid is an unstable molecule and stabilizes by becoming bicarbonate, releasing a hydrogen ion in the process.
H₂CO₃ → H⁺ + HCO3⁻
The release of hydrogen ions lowers the pH of the ocean
pH levels of the ocean prior to the Industrial Revolution: 8.2
Current pH levels of the ocean: 8.1
Acidity is affecting calcifying organisms, coral reefs
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
Ocean Visions is a non-profit organization with a goal to help the ocean and climate crises by removing carbon. ocean alkalinity enhancement is their approach by enhancing the water with alkaline substances like the name suggests. However their method is faulty because they rely on the slow weathering of rocks which produces the alkaline. Our design is similar in the way that we are adding alkaline materials into the water, but using a completely different method, of dispensing alkaline materials into the water directly with the Tortinator-9000, which is a quicker and more effective approach.
Ocean Visions
approach to carbon removal
add alkaline substances to seawater to accelerate the ocean’s natural carbon sink
occurs naturally over geologic time
alkalinity produced through slow weathering of rocks
Art
We used art as a tool by creating a concept art of what the Tortinator-9000 would look like. I illustrated it using the Procreate app in different views: an x-ray view so that the interior of the machine can be observed, and a view of when its limbs are retracted. The drawing helps visualize what it would look like, and further explore how the structure of the machine would relate to its functions. Additionally, the concept art helped communication within the team as it allowed us to explore different options. My design choices when creating this drawing were based on the research we did.
First, when it has to disperse the alkaline material into the ocean, its limbs will be extended. The alkaline materials are sprayed out through the nozzles on the limbs, which are connected to a storage compartment within the shell. The large compartment means that a lot of the material can be stored, so the machine does not constantly need to be refilled. Within the waterproof shell there is also an internal cooling system similar to those found in PCs but enlarged, which is used to prevent overheating. There are two types of sensors used; motion sensors on the head which allow it to avoid collision with other organisms, and pH sensors on the shell that allow it to constantly monitor the pH levels of the water. The shape of the limb mimics that of a real turtle fin, optimizing the movement of the machine in the water. It also has a mode where its limbs are retracted, which is when the pH levels are high enough that no alkaline materials need to be sprayed. The sensors on the surface of the shell remain active so that if the pH levels become low, it can extend its limbs and deal with the problem.
Impact
Plans and bills are passing to fight climate change
Many people already realize that climate change needs to be solved
2021, Climate Emergency Act
Inflation Reduction Act
Lowering production cost of clean energy
Carbon dioxide levels slowly decrease
Banning or decreased use of fossil fuels
In CA
All electric vehicles
Emission free
passed the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
Oceans will be easier to restore
Goal will be reached
The impact of our product in the future will be pretty significant because of how our environment is set to change. A lot of people recognize that climate change is a big deal and we need to fix it so plans and bills have been passed to fight carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emission rates. A couple of examples is the climate emergency act and the inflation reduction act. Essentially, what will happen here is that carbon dioxide levels will slowly decrease due to the fact that humans and companies will either be forced or choose to take action. The use of fossil fuels will decrease. Even in california, electric vehicles will take over and more people have started to take action. In all, these actions against climate change will only help us to reach our goal. The future is on our side.
Conclusion
Although we had a few questions that arose when researching and designing our product, we were hopeful we could find solutions. First, funding is big issue. We look forward to funding coming from private donors and fundraisers and potentially the government. But where will we get all the alkaline materials or how will we use the money exactly to source the materials. Secondly, when trying to balance out the pH levels of the water, will the extra salt produced affect the current oceanic environments and organisms living in them? Lastly, when using the tortinator-9000, will the heat generated affect the temperature of the water? And will there be any other harmful side-effects that result?
The Tortinator-9000 is the pinnacle of future restoration for our planet’s oceans. This product seeks to save our suffering oceans where marine life is slowly deteriorating. While climate change is the root of ocean acidification, any step against the change is significant. With the Tortinator-9000, our planet will have the upperhand to end alarming needs in our oceans.
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