Kelp
As a fast-growing marine organism, kelp already sequesters carbon and, at scale, could potentially play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
Our researchers are studying the rate of biomass growth and carbon export to better understand kelp's potential.
The idea
Depending on the species, kelp can live for over a year and, during its life, can grow from two to 30 metres tall, with some species reaching growth rates of up to 61 centimetres per day. This rapid growth increases its capacity for photosynthesis, which, in turn, increases the absorption of carbon dioxide from the surrounding environment.
When kelp reaches the end of its life cycle, much of the carbon it has absorbed is stored in its tissues. As the kelp decomposes and sinks to the ocean floor, this carbon is effectively sequestered, delaying its release back into the atmosphere. Due to its high growth rate compared to land forests, kelp offers a unique advantage in terms of carbon sequestration, capturing CO2 at a faster rate than many land-based ecosystems.
At CCR, we are trying to further increase our understanding of how we might get more macroalgae to grow and provide new ecosystems in the ocean, together with a flux of carbon from the surface waters to the deep ocean. This project is being undertaken in collaboration with groups such as Kelp Blue.
Research boat in the Faroe Islands, where CCR researchers are measuring kelp regrowth after harvest. Image by Rob Dunbar.
In the news
The underwater forests fighting climate change
Amongst the fjords in the Faroe Islands lies a peculiar type of farm. From above, it looks like lines and lines of rope suspended in the water, but hidden beneath the surface is an underwater forest of kelp. Cambridge researcher Zhenna Azimrayat-Andrews spent last summer there, trying to understand just how much this fast-growing seaweed could help fight climate change.
Watch: Jago's presentation in Cambridge
John Taylor introduces the marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) work at Cambridge, before Jago Strong-Wright introduces the kelp research.
How kelp can help: Zhenna's California research
The Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics group within the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics is currently working on a project which is aiming to characterise and quantify the carbon dioxide removal potential of giant kelp forests. Zhenna Azimrayat-Andrews spent the summer in California working with our collaborators.
Team
Collaborators
Header image by Rob Dunbar.