How to Use the OAE & DOR Efficiency Maps

By Joe Gaines and Matthew Long

Today, we’re exploring two approaches to ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR)—ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) and direct ocean removal (DOR; also called direction ocean capture)—and the interactive tools we’ve built to understand them.

Knowing where (and when) deployments could be most effective is challenging. Ideally, OAE or DOR interventions are placed in ocean regions where environmental conditions will maximize carbon uptake. Efficiency can vary based on ocean currents, wind speeds, and seasonal changes in surface water chemistry. And that’s exactly what these tools are designed to illuminate.

The Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Efficiency Map and the Direct Ocean Removal Efficiency Map interactive tools were created by [C]Worthy and CarbonPlan to provide insight into patterns controlling CDR efficiency and guide more effective deployments. In addition to these interactive tools, [C]Worthy has released the underlying research-grade data as entries in the Ocean CDR Atlas.

In this 11-minute conversation and demo, [C]Worthy co-founder and CEO Dr. Matthew Long and Sr. Technical Project Manager Joe Gaines provide:

• A quick but thorough overview of what OAE and DOR are, why they matter, and how they can be modeled

• The motivation for creating these tools and an understanding of the problems they are trying to solve

• A walkthrough of each interactive tool, how to use them, and how you can try them for yourself

But this is not the end of the story—at [C]Worthy we plan to release updated and higher fidelity datasets, improving the quality and scientific integrity of the Ocean CDR Atlas. Stay tuned.

Explore the tools:

https://carbonplan.org/research/mcdr-tools