FAR-FIELD IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH OCEAN DISPOSAL OF CO2

We present predictions of the far-field and long-term environmental im pacts that might be associated with ocean disposal of CO2 using two de tailed ocean circulation models. The Mesoscale Ocean Dispersion Model (MODM) simulates the transport and dispersion of injected CO2 at spati al scales between 25-2000 km, and over periods between days to 10 year s. The Global Carbon Cycle Model (GCCM) predicts both the ocean distri bution of CO2 and the atmospheric concentration beyond several centuri es. The models have been used to evaluate differences between injectio n locations with regard to the short- and long-term sequestration of t he injected CO2. The results presented here suggest that for injection sites along the east coast of the United States and south east of Jap an, the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio, respectively, dominate the initial f ate of the injected CO2, while long-term sequestration efficiencies ar e characterized by deep-water formation in the north Atlantic and slow diffusive upwelling in the North Pacific, respectively. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Ltd.