# Ocean alkalinity enhancement research experiments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ocean-alkalinity-enhancement-research-experiments
> Updated: 2026-09-12T18:01:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Researchers are conducting international experiments to test Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) as a method for carbon sequestration.

In the Gulf of Maine, the LOC-NESS project released tens of thousands of liters of sodium hydroxide into the sea to determine if increasing alkalinity can boost the ocean’s ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide without causing ecological damage. 

Simultaneously, an international team led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel launched a seven-week study in Gran Canaria. This experiment, part of the OceanAlkAlign project, utilizes twelve mesocosms to compare the effectiveness of liquid alkalinity sources against ground concrete rubble. The study aims to observe how these substances affect water chemistry and marine ecosystems while standardizing measurement methods for future climate mitigation decisions.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-12: Gulf of Maine experiment tests ocean alkalinity to capture CO2

The LOC-NESS project released sodium hydroxide into the Gulf of Maine to test if increasing ocean alkalinity can enhance carbon dioxide absorption and combat ocean acidification.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gulf-of-maine-experiment-tests-ocean-alkalinity-to-capture-co2

### 2026-09-08: GEOMAR researchers test concrete rubble for ocean alkalinity enhancement

Researchers led by GEOMAR are testing whether ground concrete rubble can enhance ocean alkalinity to increase CO2 absorption in a seven-week experiment off the coast of Gran Canaria.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/geomar-researchers-test-concrete-rubble-for-ocean-alkalinity-enhancement

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Cite as: Ocean alkalinity enhancement research experiments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ocean-alkalinity-enhancement-research-experiments