Symbiotic Enterprises

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗖) 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 A Dutch research team has simulated the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC flow, estimating the effect of human-caused climate. AMOC regulates the Earth’s climate by transporting heat from the Equator towards the poles. As global temperatures rise, freshwater is pouring into the Atlantic Ocean from the melting ice from Antarctica, Greenland, and other sources disrupting the circulation patterns that drive AMOC. Simple conceptual models dating back to 1961 have pointed to an AMOC cliff like tipping point. This study confirms an AMOC tipping point using a state-of-the-art global coupled climate model. The study does not estimate a timeframe when the tipping point would occur. Lead author, René van Westen was quoted in the Guardian, “What surprised us was the rate at which tipping occurs. According to the model, once the tipping point is reached, “the characteristic meridional overturning circulation and associated northward heat transport in the Atlantic Ocean have decreased to nearly zero and by 75% (at 26°N) ” within a 100 year period. In a near zero circulation scenario devastating effects include: cooling of winter temperatures by between 10 °C and 30 °C in northern Europe; sea level rise in the Atlantic, major shifts in tropical rainfall belts, and; potential effects to Amazon rainforests. The study was published in Science Advances-Volume 10|Issue 6|9February2024 and can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/gNfD2uQC

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 The Carbon Capture Pilot at Vicksburg Containerboard Mill, led by RTI International in collaboration with International Paper, Schlumberger Oil Field Svcs, and Amazon aims to build a carbon capture system at IP’s pulp and paper mill in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The pilot project anticipates capture of at least 90% of the CO2 from the mill’s power boiler flue gas using RTI’s non-aqueous solvent (NAS) technology. The first-of-its kind NAS technology offers a compelling alternative to conventional aqueous solvent technologies for carbon capture. This process consumes less energy while retaining high CO2 capacity, resulting in a material reduction in operating costs. In addition, the less corrosive technology eliminates the need for high-grade corrosion-resistant alloys which reduces capital costs. The project expects to capture 120,000 metric tons of CO2 per year—an amount equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of nearly 27,000 gasoline-powered cars—and transport it to a site for permanent geologic storage. The pulp and paper industry currently produces 48 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions per year in the United States, plus an additional 100 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions per year from related biogenic emissions. The federal cost share is up to $88 Million. To find out more about this project and 3 other projects that were selected for award negotiation go to: https://lnkd.in/g6wmqF6k #CarbonCapturePilotProject  #DOEOfficeofCleanEnergyDemonstrations

We're attending #GOMCON2024  next week in Tampa. This event will bring together coastal scientists and stakeholders in state and federal government, academia, non-profit, and private sectors to discuss current Gulf research and collaborate on new opportunities. Emphasizing the intersection of science, policy, and management, GOMCON will include sessions on themes that are important to ecosystem and community resilience as well as restoration and natural resource management. Will we see you there?

Gulf Coastal Carbon Working Group Meeting-GUMCON Planning The Gulf Coastal Carbon Working Group (GCCWG)  met on January 31, 2024. Topics included Louisiana’s Interest in Coastal Carbon; Other Blue Carbon Collaboration Groups; Highlights from the May 2023 Group meeting that was head at the Louisiana State of the Coast Conference, and agenda setting for the upcoming February 19th Meeting that will occur at the Gulf of Mexico Conference (GUMCON). Thank you Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority,  The Water Institute And Restore Americas Estuaries and for hosting the meeting. I look forward to GCCWG and  GUMCON in Tampa-February 19-22, 2024. A video of the January 31, 2024 meeting is now available here: https://lnkd.in/g7NDcrYp