DISSOLUTION AND DISPERSION OF CO2 FROM A LIQUID CO2 POOL IN THE DEEP OCEAN

Liquid CO2 sequestration in a bathymetric depression at depths greater than 3700 m in the ocean has been proposed as a mitigation strategy for the reduction of atmospheric CO2 emissions. Kinetic studies on the dissolution of CO2 from the liquid CO2 pool, the diffusion in the ocean, and advection of CO2 by the bottom ocean current are carried out. A thin membrane of CO2 hydrate on the liquid CO2 pool controls the CO2 dissolution into the overlaying seawater, the thickness of a static layer between the surface of liquid CO2 and the upper bottom ocean current reduces the CO2 diffusion, and the bottom ocean current dilutes the CO2 concentration. These effects are explicity formulated in an equation, and it is predicted that ocean CO2 sequestration at a depth larger than 3700 m will greatly reduce the pH change caused by CO2 dispersion in the ocean. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.