Iron Sulfate Dumped Into Sea May Slow Global Warming Or Do Completely the Opposite

from Gizmodo by Yuri Baranovsky

In an effort to slow down the effects of global warming, scientists from Germany, Italy, India and Chile are planning to dump 20 tonnes of non-toxic iron sulfate into the sea. The iron particles -- which will be spread around a 1,000 square kilometer area -- should theoretically create conditions for large amounts of phytoplankton, algae and microorganisms to grow and, ideally, help soak up the carbon dioxide that's slowly causing our planet to roast.

The process -- called carbon sinking -- could potentially restore plankton, improve the quality of the water and, on a very good day, slow climate change. On the other hand, since it's more or less untested, it could also result in nitrous oxide and methane being shot into the atmosphere, making things worse. So, you know, cross your sustainable fingers. [Hindustan Times via TreeHugger]