Researchers Test Ocean Carbon Absorption in Gulf of Maine
The LOC-NESS project released sodium hydroxide to study if raising seawater pH can increase atmospheric carbon capture.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Environmental
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In an August 13, 2025, field trial, scientists released 16,500 gallons of sodium hydroxide into the Wilkinson Basin in the Gulf of Maine. The experiment aimed to measure whether altering seawater chemistry can effectively boost carbon dioxide absorption.
Why it matters
Scientists are evaluating ocean alkalinity enhancement as a potential climate solution to pull greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The project provides data on whether human-induced pH changes can safely scale carbon removal without harming marine ecosystems.
During the six-hour release, researchers used autonomous underwater vehicles and gliders to track a patch of water spanning 2,600 feet in diameter. Seawater pH levels momentarily exceeded the EPA-permitted limit of 8.7.
The players
Environmental Protection Agency
This federal agency regulates environmental impacts and granted the permit for the alkalinity enhancement research.
Research vessel Connecticut
This ship served as the primary monitoring platform for tracking the chemical patch during the field trial.
The details
A support vessel pumped the sodium hydroxide while the research vessel Connecticut monitored the patch's dispersion over four days using drifting buoys and Rhodamine tracers. Despite the temporary pH spike, preliminary findings indicate no significant harm to plankton or larvae in the immediate test area.
Timeline
The EPA opened public comment periods for the project in 2024.
The EPA approved the official research permit in April 2025.
The LOC-NESS team released the sodium hydroxide on August 13, 2025.
Researchers presented preliminary findings in February 2026.
The Big Picture
This trial represents a shift in oceanographic research from theoretical modeling to active field testing of climate intervention technologies. The experiment challenges the legacy assumption that ocean chemistry cannot be safely manipulated for atmospheric carbon sequestration.
The successful tracking of carbon capture suggests that ocean-based climate technologies could eventually impact national carbon offset standards. Continued research will determine if these methods can move from experimental patches to large-scale deployments for global carbon reduction.
The takeaway
This trial demonstrates that human-induced chemical changes to seawater can effectively absorb carbon dioxide in a monitored environment. Future research will focus on scaling these efforts while ensuring that higher pH levels do not negatively impact regional marine life.
Further reading
For more information on current climate mitigation studies, see the Environmental section.
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