Measurement of sequestered carbon

A method of producing carbon credits, the method comprising:

• (a) analysing a water sample and a phytoplankton sample taken from a photic zone of a portion of an ocean to determine the stoichiometric ratio of carbon to other chemical elements in the water and in the phytoplankton;
• (b) determining which one or more of the other chemical elements would, when added to the photic zone of the portion, cause growth of a phytoplankton population in the portion;
• (c) calculating a quantity of the one or more chemical elements determined in step (b), whereby substantially all of the element or substantially all of at least one of the elements added to the photic zone of the portion would be consumed by the additional phytoplankton grown;
• (d) adding to the photic zone of the portion the quantity of the chemical element or elements calculated in step (c);
• (e) calculating the amount of carbon dioxide that will be sequestered from the atmosphere based on the quantity of the chemical element or elements that was added to the portion in step (d) and the stoichiometric ratio of carbon to other chemical elements in phytoplankton determined in step (a);
• and
• (f) calculating the amount of carbon credits produced based on the amount of carbon dioxide that will be sequestered.

A system for determining an amount of carbon dioxide that can be sequestered from the atmosphere by a portion of an ocean, the system comprising:

• a water receptacle to obtain a sample of water and phytoplankton from a photic zone of the portion;
• an analyser to analyse the sample of water and phytoplankton to determine the stoichiometric ratio of carbon to other chemical elements in the water and in the phytoplankton;
• and
• determining a computer programmed to:
• (a) determine which one or more of the other chemical elements would, when added to the photic zone, cause growth of a phytoplankton population in the portion, and calculating a quantity of the one or more chemical elements whereby substantially all of the element or substantially all of at least one of the elements added would be consumed by the additional phytoplankton grown;
• and
• (b) calculate the amount of carbon dioxide that can be sequestered from the atmosphere based on the quantity of the chemical element or elements calculated in step (a) and the stoichiometric ratio of carbon to other chemical elements in phytoplankton.

A system for producing carbon credits, the system comprising:

• a water receptacle to obtain a sample of water and phytoplankton from a photic zone of a portion of an ocean;
• an analyser to analyse the sample of water and phytoplankton to determine the stoichiometric ratio of carbon to other chemical elements in the water and in the phytoplankton;
• and
• a computer programmed to:
• (a) determine which one or more of the other chemical elements would, when added to the photic zone, cause growth of a phytoplankton population in the portion, and calculating a quantity of the one or more chemical elements whereby substantially all of the element or substantially all of at least one of the elements added would be consumed by the additional phytoplankton grown;
• and
• (b) add to the photic zone of the portion the quantity of the chemical element or elements calculated in step (a);
• (c) calculate the amount of carbon dioxide that will be sequestered from the atmosphere based on the quantity of the chemical element or elements that was added to the portion in step (b) and the stoichiometric ratio of carbon to other chemical elements;
• and
• (d) calculate the amount of carbon credits produced based on the amount of carbon dioxide that will be sequestered.

A system comprising:

• (a) a chemical element analyser for determining the stoichiometric ratio of carbon to other chemical elements in water and phytoplankton taken from a photic zone of a portion of an ocean;
• (b) a chemical element determiner for determining which one or more of the other chemical elements would, when added to the photic zone of the portion, cause growth of a phytoplankton population in the portion;
• (c) a chemical element quantity determiner for determining a quantity of the chemical element or elements determined in step (b) whereby substantially all of the element or substantially all of at least one of the elements added would be consumed by the additional phytoplankton grown;
• and
• (d) a carbon dioxide sequestration calculator for calculating the amount of carbon dioxide that can be sequestered from the atmosphere based on the quantity of the chemical element or elements determined in step (c) and the stoichiometric ratio of carbon to other chemical elements in phytoplankton determined in step (a).