Running Tide develops and deploys science-based solutions to restore ocean health.

Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have moved 2.4 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the slow carbon cycle (geological reservoirs and the deep ocean) to the fast cycle (the atmosphere, the ocean surface, and organic materials), primarily through the burning of fossil fuels. Running Tide’s multi-pathway system is designed to rebalance the Earth’s carbon cycle and restore ocean health by partnering with nature to move fast carbon back to the slow carbon cycle in the deep ocean.

Running Tide works to restore the health of ocean ecosystems. Towards that end, we are actively studying how our carbon removal and ecosystem restoration interventions interact with complex and dynamic ocean ecosystems. In partnership with third-party experts, we directly observe ecosystem impacts at the site of our interventions, as well as through small-scale experiments near our interventions. We also predict potential impacts using models and lab experiments.

Biology is a core component of Running Tide’s scientific work. Knowing how different species of macroalgae and terrestrial biomass grow, reproduce, and respond to environmental perturbations helps us work towards optimizing growth in offshore conditions. We ask not only applied scientific questions that relate to carbon dioxide removal, but also basic biology questions regarding genetics, physiology, and biological development.

Verification is the process through which Running Tide and external stakeholders evaluate and demonstrate the outcomes of our carbon removal and ecosystem restoration work. In terms of carbon removal, we verify that the impact of an intervention — such as a carbon buoy deployment — results in the net movement of carbon from the fast carbon cycle to the slow cycle, which reduces the amount of CO2 contributing to global warming and ocean acidification.