Laura Marín Samper (Ph.D. student): "Potential impacts of artificial ocean alkalinization on primary production, phytoplanktonic and microbial community structure, and on the biogeochemical fluxes they regulate".

Artificial Ocean Alkalinization (AOA) is an example of an ocean-based Negative Emissions Technology (NET) that removes atmospheric CO2 through the enhancement of naturally occurring carbon sinks. More specifically, by means of mineral weathering processes. It consists of inducing a pCO2 decline in open ocean surface waters through the dilution of pulverised carbonate or silicate minerals.
This thesis will focus on evaluating the potential impacts of AOA on pelagic, phytoplanktonic communities using a mesocosm approach. Primary production and metabolic rates, as well as changes in the phytoplankton and microbial community structure, and organic matter dynamics, will be monitored along alkalinity gradients. Thus, allowing for the potential ecological and biogeochemical impacts of AOA to be evaluated in situ.