Iron Fertilization Experiments by Indian Scientists in Ocean

Indian scientists recently carried out a controversial experiment in the ocean near Antarctica to get Carbon-dioxide/CO2 captured from the air and stored in the sea. The experiment, meant to combat climate change, was a failure.
However, the scientists say that they learnt some valuable lessons from the experiment.

The iron fertilisation experiment “Lohafex” was a joint venture of India’s National Institute of Oceanography/ NIO and Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research and included some 40 scientists from five other countries.

The 75-day Indo-German experiment carried out amidst opposition from environmental groups has shown that dumping iron in the Southern Ocean does not help in capturing carbon dioxide/ CO2 that is responsible for much of global warming.

The experiment which concluded six weeks ago has given new insights on how the complex ocean ecosystems function. The results will be intensely discussed and prepared for joint publication in scientific journals at a workshop to be held in Goa by the end of the year.