I have rarely started a thread, but reading the latest GeoTimes magazine (as in a couple of issues back) there are people seriously proposing to store excess CO2 underground in geological formations.
It seems to me this is something cavers would want to be aware of and monitor. At this point, they are talking about CO2 pumping into declining oil and gas wells to extract the last dregs of hydrocarbons (this already goes on to some extent). Other places also proposed have been coal mines, and saline aquifers. Since all of these occur in sedimentary rocks, it isn't often that far to the nearest limestone, dolostone, gypsum or sandstone, and you can imagine what a nice pressured pumping of CO2 would likely to any carbonates or carbonated cemented material. The technique calls for using rock formations with shale caps but I seriously wonder (from a caver's and subterranean biologist's standpoint) if anyone has thought beyond their noses as to the effects this would have on subterranean life, not to mention the activity of caving into an area where such injections are taking place. Homeowners, too could be affected by loose plumes of CO2, or CO2 enriched water causing structural weakening and subsidence. GeoTimes is a publication of the AGI, of which the NSS is a member. I've never heard any downsides to this plan expressed. One of the government sites says natural natural gas caverns and old mines where NG is stored would not be considered; my wondering is what about new caverns formed as CO2 moves around underground. True, it is heavy as a gas goes, but even heavier than water fluids migrate underground.
Comments?
Websites for reference:
http://cdiac2.esd.ornl.gov/
http://www.llnl.gov/str/Johnson.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sink
http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/fe ... bonug.html