Sea lettuce Found to Soak 3 Times More CO2 than Maple Trees Do

-Low Carbon Green Growth can be driven by CO2 absorption by Seaweeds in Korea’s East Sea

Scientists of East Sea Fisheries Research Institute (NFRDI) have conducted a survey with counterparts of Industry Innovation Center of Incheon University from last September to December on CO2 absorption capability of 16 species of algae (2 green algae, 10 brown algae, 4 red algae) living in sea forests of the Korea\'s coastal area.    

The survey shows sea lettuce (Ulva pertusa kjellwan) soaks 9.49kg per ton, performing the highest efficiency of photosynthesis among the others and indicating that the species could serve as the most powerful CO2 absorber in the sea.    

The survey result can be translated that a ton of sea lettuce is capable to take into 20.5 tons of CO2 annually on a condition that the seaweed maintains photosynthesis at a maximum rate of 12 hr/day for 6 months of a year. Sea lettuce performs 3 times better to absorb CO2 with 69.0㎍CO2•㎎ DW1•hr1 than maple trees do with 22.0㎍CO2•㎎ DW1•hr1.   

Following sea lettuce is akamoku (Sargassum horneri), which is estimated to soak annually 3.8~4.1 ton of CO2. Kajume (Ecklonia cava kjellman) and rhubarb come last on the list with 0.9 ton and 0.7 ton respectively.

The survey was conducted in vitro with optimal conditions for measuring and analyzing. To obtain results in vivo, more delicate measurement and analysis are required to be carried out by developmental phase, season and physiological and biological factor of seaweed.

Based on the current results, more broad applications could be made to take a grasp on an estimated total amount of CO2 absorbed in the sea forest constructed in the Korean coast.

East Sea Fisheries Research Institute has plans to continue on the scientific estimation on CO2 removal to establish practical measures on utilizing the massive national project of sea forest construction to fight against global warming.