Underwater Volcanoes: A Potential Solution for Carbon Capture
An extinct underwater volcano off the coast of Portugal could store up to 8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide using a method called "in situ mineral carbonization." The process involves pumping CO2 deep underground, where it reacts with calcium, magnesium, and iron to form calcite, dolomite, and magnesite, trapping the CO2 in rock. The Fontanelas volcano's structure and composition make it an ideal location for the process, and existing data suggests that other undersea volcanoes could also be used as CO2 landfills.