Ironing out warming wrinkles

The controversy regarding the fertilization of the ocean with iron to slow down global warming was outlined. The world's oceans absorb up to one-third of annual carbon dioxide released annually from fossil fuels. Some scientists believe they can engineer the oceans to absorb even more carbon if they fertilize them with iron. The iron would promote algae growth which would draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Phytoplankton (algae suspended in the ocean water) convert carbon dioxide into biomass. When the algae die, they would sink to the ocean depths and remain there for thousands of years. Other scientists argue that iron fertilization is not a feasible mitigation tool because not enough is known about the effects of fertilization or the potential ramifications. They argue that some changes of this kind may even accelerate global warming. One beneficial effect resulting from the controversy is that it has drawn attention to the philosophical dimension of massive intervention in the earth's biogeochemical cycles. In this context the question that needs to be answered is: if such a tool for large-scale low-cost manipulation of the earth really becomes available, what framework will be used to make decisions about whether such option should be exercised