Introduction and synthesis Philip W. Boyd NIWA Centre for Chemical and Physical Oceanography, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand ABSTRACT: A historical perspective of the scientific study of ocean iron fertilization (OIF) over the last 15 yr prefaces a short synthesis of the multi-faceted issues raised by the 11 contributions to this Theme Section. These issues, which range from ethical to logistical, must be aired in discussions surrounding OIF and its commercial application as a potential climate mitigation tool. Two other issues, not considered in detail by the contributors, are also addressed: (1) the importance of the rate of change in atmospheric CO2 following sustained global OIF (other than model simulations, the only data presently available to assess this comes from the geological record, e.g. Vostok ice core record of dust supply and atmospheric CO2); and (2) the necessity of making realistic estimates of the cost of OIF (i.e. carbon sequestered per unit of iron added) to provide comparisons of the ratio of cost:environmental risk of OIF with other mitigation strategies. MEPS 364:213-309 | Complete Theme Section in pdf format (2 MB) Boyd PW Introduction and synthesis MEPS 364:213-218 | Full text in pdf format Denman KL Climate change, ocean processes and ocean iron fertilization MEPS 364:219-225 | Full text in pdf format Freestone D, Rayfuse R Ocean iron fertilization and international law MEPS 364:227-233 | Full text in pdf format Orbach MK Cultural context of ocean fertilization MEPS 364:235-242 | Full text in pdf format Huesemann MH Ocean fertilization and other climate change mitigation strategies: an overview MEPS 364:243-250 | Full text in pdf format Leinen M Building relationships between scientists and business in ocean iron fertilization MEPS 364:251-256 | Full text in pdf format Karl DM, Letelier RM Nitrogen fixation-enhanced carbon sequestration in low nitrate, low chlorophyll seascapes MEPS 364:257-268 | Full text in pdf format de Baar HJW, Gerringa LJA, Laan P, Timmermans KR Efficiency of carbon removal per added iron in ocean iron fertilization MEPS 364:269-282 | Full text in pdf format Law CS Predicting and monitoring the effects of large-scale ocean iron fertilization on marine trace gas emissions MEPS 364:283-288 | Full text in pdf format Gnanadesikan A, Marinov I Export is not enough: nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration MEPS 364:289-294 | Full text in pdf format Cullen JJ, Boyd PW Predicting and verifying the intended and unintended consequences of large-scale ocean iron fertilization MEPS 364:295-301 | Full text in pdf format Watson AJ, Boyd PW, Turner SM, Jickells TD, Liss PS Designing the next generation of ocean iron fertilization experiments MEPS 364:303-309 | Full text in pdf format
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