Ecological Studies
In concert with numerous scientific partners, Running Tide is closely monitoring the potential impact of our interventions in diverse ocean ecosystems, including the upper ocean, and pelagic and benthic layers.
Our predictive models are informed and calibrated by data from our laboratory and field experiments. These models are incorporated in our larger model platform to predict our impacts on marine ecosystems, contribute to understanding of Earth system-scale climate interventions, and quantify our rates of carbon removal.
Additionally, we seatruth and refine our models through experiments and in-situ monitoring. For instance, we have developed experiments that determine the degradation rate of our materials on the seafloor and the organisms that participate in degradation. We also monitor both floating and sunk materials to determine how pelagic and benthic communities might shift in response to these materials.
In the area of ecological studies, Running Tide is studying a number of key research questions. These include:
- Wu, J., Keller, D. P., and Oschlies, A.: Carbon Dioxide Removal via Macroalgae Open-ocean Mariculture and Sinking: An Earth System Modeling Study, Earth Syst. Dynam. Discuss.
- National Academy of Sciences: A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration
- Judge, J. and Barry, J.P. (2016), Macroinvertebrate community assembly on deep-sea wood falls in Monterey Bay is strongly influenced by wood type. Ecology, 97: 3031-3043
- Harbour RP, Smith CR, Simon-Nutbrown C, Cecchetto M, Young E, Coral C, Sweetman AK (2021) Biodiversity, community structure and ecosystem function on kelp and wood falls in the Norwegian deep sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 657:73-91.