Biophysical Geoengineering Compositions and Methods

• US 20090227161A1
• Filed: 05/10/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kal K. Lambert
• Original Assignee: Kal K. Lambert
• Inventors: Lambert, Kal K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 441/29
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 15/00 Devices or methods for influencing weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/00 Microorganisms, e.g. protozoa; Compositions thereof medicinal preparations containing material from protozoa, bacteria or viruses A61K35/66, from algae A61K36/02, from fungi A61K36/06; preparing medicinal bacterial antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. bacterial vaccines, A61K39/00; Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Described here are compositions, methods and apparatus for biological and physical geoengineering. Disclosed are inorganic particles, prill, pucks, or floats for dispersal on a body of water, the compositions having several properties: 1) positive buoyancy, 2) a sustained-release matrix for delivery of iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, molybdenum, manganese, cobalt, boron, selenium, vanadium, chromium, nickel, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, preferably as a combination thereof, at biologically efficacious levels, and synergically, 3) a light-reflective surface for increasing planetary albedo when dispersed over large surfaces. These compositions are found to A) increase yields for pelagic aquaculture, B) increase carbon sequestration, and C) provide immediate relief from global warming by directly increasing surface albedo and indirectly by increasing cloud nucleation activity. A preferred composition comprises a mixture of inorganic salts and binders (such as a glass or ceramic) effective for increasing the growth of primary aquatic producers such as coccolithophorids, diatoms, silicoflagellates, dinoflagellates, and microalgae (and higher trophic levels) in a sustained-release composition having a T_1/2 of 0.5-3 years. To validate resultant carbon fixation and sequestration, a vertical spar buoy is provided. The buoy is designed to resist wave motion while supporting a stable long-term platform and submerged spaceframe with laser particle counters suspended below the 100 year horizon. Validation of exsolation energy credits, issuance of an associated financial instrument, and trading markets for those instruments are also described.

Claims

1. A composition for sequestering fixed carbon below the 100 year horizon of an ocean, which comprises:

a) an inorganic nutrient formulation in an inorganic, sustained-release solid matrix, said solid matrix having a net aggregate positive buoyancy; and

b) a light reflective surface thereon.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said inorganic nutrient formulation comprises iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, molybdenum, manganese, cobalt, boron, selenium, vanadium, chromium, nickel, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, or a combination thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said inorganic sustained-release solid matrix is a glass, a ceramic, a cementitious material or a combination thereof.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said light reflective surface has a coefficient of reflection greater than 0.5 across the visible spectrum.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is configured with center of buoyancy for orienting said reflective surface skyward when buoyantly dispersed on said ocean.

6. The composition of claim 1, having a half-life of 6 months to 3 years following dispersal.

7. A method for sequestering fixed carbon below the 100 year horizon of an ocean, which comprises dispersing a buoyant composition of claim 1 on the surface of said ocean, said buoyant composition comprising an inorganic nutrient formulation in an inorganic, sustained-release matrix, wherein said composition further comprises a light reflective surface thereon.

8. An apparatus for validating sequestration of fixed carbon in an ocean below the 100 year horizon by the method of claim 7, which comprises:

a) a spar buoy with vertically elongate hollow body having a first end with superstructure and a second end with ballast mass, said hollow body having an upper fixed displacement volume V1 and a lower variable displacement volume V2;

b) a horizontally disposed spaceframe suspended from said buoy at a depth below the 100 year horizon; and

c) an immersible instrument platform mounted on said spaceframe for measuring sedimentary deadfall.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a pump for controlling said variable displacement volume V2 so as to adjust the depth of flotation or dampen the pitch of said buoy in response to sea conditions.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said immersible instrument platform comprises a laser particle counter.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an encircling surface boom for containing a study area.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said superstructure comprises a pelagic aquaculture workstation.

13. A method for increasing planetary albedo, which comprises dispersing a buoyant composition on the surface of an ocean, said buoyant composition comprising a light reflective surface, and measuring a change in albedo by satellite infrarometry.

14. An apparatus for emitting a unit quantity of solar exsolation measurable in Joules from a terrestrial reflective surface to a plane above the upper terminus of the troposphere, wherein a solar exsolation credit instrument equal to said unit quantity of solar exsolation is validated and issued by said apparatus.

15. A market for trading a solar exsolation credit instrument issued by the apparatus of claim 14, which comprises at least one computer, said computer comprising a microprocessor, a volatile memory, a non-volatile read-only memory containing instructions for said microprocessor, a database containing records, said records comprising an ask price for said solar exsolation credit instrument and a bid price for said solar exsolation credit instrument, and a user interface for entering and displaying said records, optionally with communications port for remotely porting said entering and displaying functions.