Plan Sea: Ocean Interventions to Address Climate Change · Wil Burns and Anna Madlener

Exploring the Risks and Riches of the Deep Sea Ecosystems in Climate Interventions: A Discussion with Lisa Levin

·37 min·3 clips

Hosts Wil and Anna pivot to discuss deep sea risks with Lisa Levin, author of a groundbreaking Science review.

This episode of Plan Sea examines the potential impacts of ocean-based climate interventions on deep-sea ecosystems. Hosts Will Burns and Anna Madlener are joined by guest Lisa Levin, a distinguished professor from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and lead author of a recent Science review. The conversation shifts the series' focus from carbon verification to the ecological risks of deploying these technologies. Levin's review, "Deep Sea Impacts of Climate Interventions," serves as the episode's central document. The discussion covers various proposed techniques, including ocean fertilization, alkalinity enhancement, and direct carbon injection. Specific attention is given to marine cloud brightening as a solar radiation modification method. The hosts and guest explore how byproducts or intentional additions from these interventions could reach the deep ocean. A key concern is the potential for increased ocean stratification, which could reduce oxygen levels in deep waters. Levin explains how interventions might alter the flux of organic particles, a primary food source for deep-sea life. The episode references the distinct biological communities found at hydrothermal vents and on abyssal plains. Specific risks mentioned include changes in water chemistry, such as pH and oxygen saturation, affecting organisms like cold-water corals. One surprising claim is that the deep sea, often considered remote, is intimately connected to surface processes through this "particle rain." A memorable insight is that the environmental impact assessments for these technologies largely overlook deep-sea ecosystems. Levin argues that the deep ocean's immense volume and slow recovery rates make it uniquely vulnerable to persistent changes. The conversation notes that international governance frameworks currently lack specific protocols for these novel deep-sea risks. The tone is educational and exploratory, grounded in scientific review and policy considerations. The style is a structured interview, with hosts posing direct questions to the expert guest. Listeners interested in marine science, climate engineering governance, and environmental ethics would find this episode compelling. Those seeking purely technical explanations of carbon removal methods or optimistic business cases might find its cautionary focus less engaging.

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