Oceanographers Experimenting For Colder Water

The importance of cold, nutrient-rich water on the Oregon Coast is well known: minerals kick-start a cycle that feeds all creatures including plankton, filter feeders and predatory fish. When normal upwelling patterns fail to develop, ocean productivity falls. In order to combat a lack of upwelling in recent years, a group of researchers is attempting to use technology to artificially cool ocean water and increase productivity.

How It’s Possible
Dr. Lirpa Sloof, a Nobel Prize-winning oceanographer from India, has been working on his ocean cooling technology for over 30 years in Norway, Peru, Iceland and most recently, Northern California. As a visiting professor at Humboldt State, Dr. Sloof has completed a fully operational ocean cooling facility in Trinidad Bay. The “Cold Shower”, as its known, is nearly the size of 4 football fields and works by spraying 100,000 gallons of water per hour through mesh bags filled with ice. The cooled water sinks, creating a “mini” upwelling event in Trinidad Bay. Dr. Sloof declined to say exactly how much ice is used daily, but admits that usage is “significant.”

Results Noteworthy
Dr. Sloof and his team has been able to cool the water .0001 degree Fahrenheit. While this may not sound significant, researchers believe it is. The slightest amount of cooling will theoretically lead to a “Domino” effect that leads to more and more cool water. The results have been so positive that Dr. Sloof has applied for federal economic stimulus funds to install a full-scale facility near Coos Bay. The cost of a full scale ocean cooling facility is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $200 million and could create as many as 4 new jobs. “Of course, we’ll need a lot more ice for such a facility,” said Dr. Sloof. In order to mitigate a lack of ice in Coos Bay, Dr. Sloof proposes to haul ice in on cargo ships from as far away as Alaska. If feasible, entire icebergs may be brought in from areas where local waters are already cold enough. Towing icebergs would have the additional benefit of cooling water all along the coasts of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon during the journey south.

Cold Shower For Florence?
Dr. Sloof is already looking ahead to establishing facilities like the Cold Shower in Florence, Newport, Garibaldi and Astoria. When natural upwelling patterns fail to materialize, Dr. Sloof can simply flip a switch and set into motion a colder ocean. Is this the future direction of ocean research? I don’t think so. April Fools.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

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