Modelling large-scale CO2 leakages in the North Sea

Phelps, JJC, Blackford, JC, Holt, JT and Polton, JA 2015 Modelling large-scale CO2 leakages in the North Sea. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 38. 210-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2014.10.013

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract/Summary

A three dimensional hydrodynamic model with a coupled carbonate speciation sub-model is used to simulate large additions of CO2into the North Sea, representing leakages at potential carbon sequestration sites. A range of leakage scenarios are conducted at two distinct release sites, allowing an analysis of the seasonal, inter-annual and spatial variability of impacts to the marine ecosystem. Seasonally stratified regions are shown to be more vulnerable to CO2release during the summer as the added CO2remains trapped beneath the thermocline, preventing outgasing to the atmosphere. On average, CO2 injected into the northern North Sea is shown to reside within the water column twice as long as an equivalent addition in the southern North Sea before reaching the atmosphere. Short-term leakages of 5000 tonnes CO2over a single day result in substantial acidification at the release sites (up to -1.92 pH units), with significant perturbations (greater than 0.1 pH units) generally confined to a 10 km radius. Long-term CO2leakages sustained for a year may result in extensive plumes of acidified seawater, carried by major advective pathways. Whilst such scenarios could be harmful to marine biota over confined spatial scales, continued unmitigated CO2emissions from fossil fuels are predicted to result in greater and more long-lived perturbations to the carbonate system over the next few decades.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Keywords:	Carbon capture and storage, CCS, North Sea, CO2, Shelf sea, pH
Subjects:	Marine Sciences Oceanography Pollution
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Marine System Modelling
Depositing User:	Jerry Blackford
Date made live:	08 Dec 2014 10:12
Last Modified:	13 Dec 2023 12:33
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/6305

Actions (login required)

View Item