Could artificial reoxygenation revitalize dying coastal seas?

作者：Caroline P. Slomp, Andreas Oschlies, Andrew H. Altieri, Lennart T. Bach, Laurent Bopp, Denise L. Breitburg, Anna Canning, Daniel Conley, Minhan Dai, Boris Dewitte, Henrik Enevoldsen, Erica M. Ferrer, Alexander Galán, Veronique Camille Garcon, Marilaure Grégoire, Bo Gustafsson, Dimitri Gutierrez, Patricia Vera Klara Handmann, Astrid Hylén, Kirsten Isensee, Rudy Lamond, Ming Li, Karin E. Limburg, Ivonne Montès, Jeremy T. Sterling, Aileen Tan Shau Hwai, Jeremy M. Testa, Doug Wallace, Joanna Waniek, Moriaki Yasuhara · 发表于：Environmental Research Letters · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1088/1748-9326/ae5e96 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Marine and coastal ecosystems、Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena、Coastal and Marine Management

Abstract Eutrophication and global warming are key drivers of oxygen loss, also termed deoxygenation, in coastal ecosystems worldwide. Artificial reoxygenation has been suggested as a local or regional solution to increase oxygen concentrations and improve water quality by various parties, including water managers and industry. Three main approaches have been proposed: (1) bubbling with air with the aim to destratify and mix the water column (2) injection of pure oxygen and (3) pumping of oxygenated water to greater water depths (downwelling). In this review, we summarize the results of recent field trials and other implementations of artificial reoxygenation in coastal systems, which, to date, only involve small bays and estuaries. We also discuss potential benefits and risks. While the recent trials indicate that reoxygenation of the water column can be achieved, low oxygen conditions returned rapidly within days to months of discontinuing operations. This illustrates that artificial reoxygenation typically only provides a temporary solution to deoxygenation. Potential side effects of artificial reoxygenation could include enhanced emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and, upon bubbling and destratification in shallow waters, also of methane. Additionally, downwelling could lead to warming and an associated increased oxygen demand near the seafloor. Reoxygenation will not necessarily reduce the nutrient availability for phytoplankton, implying that water quality m...