Iron fertilization: Scientists want to add the element to the ocean to capture carbon

Adding metal to marine life

Photo collage of various chunks of iron, the sea, charts, and phytoplankton
Iron fertilization is a controversial method of removing carbon from the atmosphere
(Image credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images)

The climate is warming, and much of the increase is due to greenhouse gases, the most prevalent gas being carbon dioxide. Methods for removing existing carbon from the atmosphere are in the works, and some experts are arguing in favor of iron fertilization, a geoengineering approach which would help oceans trap atmospheric carbon. While the method has potential, the consequences of implementing it are still largely unknown.

Iron in the ocean

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Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.