Global climate impacts of extreme brine input to the ocean
C-BRINES exploits a unique geological record of a massive gypsum precipitation event that occurred 5–6 million years ago in the Mediterranean, both to train 15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) and to investigate gypsum’s potential as an innovative marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) technology. Newly acquired deep sea sediment cores that capture gypsum-driven changes to ocean chemistry (alkalinity) also preserve evidence of its influence on ocean temperatures, marine ecology and the carbon cycle. C-BRINES will use these multi-proxy records to validate new physical and biogeochemical models designed to simulate this ancient alkalinity perturbation, providing the first natural experiment for evaluating gypsum-driven Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE). The resulting model code will then quantify the viability of gypsum precipitation from seawater as a safe, effective mCDR technology for the future. C-BRINES brings together an international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral network spanning geoscience, oceanography, biogeochemistry, modelling, subsurface engineering, marine ecology, and environmental monitoring. Each DC will follow a personalised training pathway, enriched by secondments across academia, industry, and applied research organisations. Non-academic partners in gypsum production, OAE start-ups, marine ecosystem monitoring, ocean-clean-up technologies, gas storage, subsurface instrumentation, and biostratigraphy will contribute cutting-edge technology, data, and expertise, complementing the world-leading research facilities available through C-BRINES academic partners. By combining frontier research, high-quality training and strong industry engagement, C-BRINES supports critical research aligned with Europe’s 2050 net zero target, while creating a new talent pipeline for the rapidly expanding mCDR. The project delivers both scientific innovation and the skilled workforce needed to scale-up next-generation negative-emission solutions in Europe and beyond.
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Imported from OpenAIRE United Kingdom | Grant 101312277.
Open sourceOverview
Grant agreement 101312277 | C-BRINES
Open sourceC-BRINES exploits a unique geological record of a massive gypsum precipitation event that occurred 5–6 million years ago in the Mediterranean, both to train 15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) and to investigate gypsum’s potential as an innovative marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) technology. Newly acquired deep sea sediment cores that capture gypsum-driven changes to ocean chemistry (alkalinity) also preserve evidence of its influence on ocean temperatures, marine ecology and the carbon cycle. C-BRINES will use these multi-proxy records to validate new physical and biogeochemical models designed to simulate this ancient alkalinity perturbation, providing the first natural experiment for evaluating gypsum-driven Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE). The resulting model code will then quantify the viability of gypsum precipitation from seawater as a safe, effective mCDR technology for the future. C-BRINES brings together an international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral network spanning geoscience, oceanography, biogeochemistry, modelling, subsurface engineering, marine ecology, and environmental monitoring. Each DC will follow a personalised training pathway, enriched by secondments across academia, industry, and applied research organisations. Non-academic partners in gypsum production, OAE start-ups, marine ecosystem monitoring, ocean-clean-up technologies, gas storage, subsurface instrumentation, and biostratigraphy will contribute cutting-edge technology, data, and expertise, complementing the world-leading research facilities available through C-BRINES academic partners. By combining frontier research, high-quality training and strong industry engagement, C-BRINES supports critical research aligned with Europe’s 2050 net zero target, while creating a new talent pipeline for the rapidly expanding mCDR. The project delivers both scientific innovation and the skilled workforce needed to scale-up next-generation negative-emission solutions in Europe and beyond.