The Win Win (Win Win?) Solution to
Protecting Coral Reefs from Extreme Temperatures
The summer of 2023 had the hottest sea temperatures on record, resulting in a catastrophic loss of coral reefs throughout the world
Artificial upwellings instantly cool down coral reefs by mimicking a natural process, protecting them from bleaching, disease, and death.
The Austral summer is fast approaching! Help us get a prototype in the water to test how they perform in the field!
For protecting and restoring coral reefs, artificial upwellings are a solution that are:
FAST to deploy and take effect
an EFFECTIVE ecosystem-based approach
SCALABLE for global impact
SAFE for marine organisms and ecosystems
with many CO-BENEFITS like increased ecosystem resilience
What is an upwelling?
Upwellings are a natural hydrodynamic process that bring cold, nutrient-rich water from deep areas into surface waters. They cool a layer of surface water, stimulate biological productivity, and may reduce disease in the ecosystems they reach.
Upwellings naturally occur near some coral reefs, and those reefs tend to be healthier and more resilient.
What is this project?
Our technology uses a structure to mimic the natural cooling that occurs by upwelling, saving coral reefs and other marine ecosystems that are threatened by unprecedented temperatures from climate change. The technology is safe for organisms and ecosystems, and can protect, restore, and increase the resilience of coral reefs and other vulnerable marine ecosystems. Visit the Upwelling Institute for more detailed information.
How does it work?
A passive wave-powered turbine is placed at 50-100m of depth, and pumps the deeper water to the surface. The upweller can be towed by boat, deployed easily, and can be removed when not in use. The blade movement is slow enough to not harm organisms, but generates enough flow to cool 1 square kilometer of reef area.
What is the current status of the project?
We have multiple sizes (1.5m, 7.5m, 10m) of working prototypes that have been tested in California, and basic models of the effects of artificial upwellings on reef environments and ecosystems. We are currently designing a 5m upweller that is small enough to be transported easily but still be effective. At the same time, we are improving the foundational science needed to demonstrate the environmental safety of this technology in different coral reef areas.
What will the funds be used for?
The Upwelling Institute is seeking pre-seed funding to:
: finalize a 5m field trial prototype (14k)
: run a small-scale field trial (4k)
: support scientific development (5k)
: support business development (2k)
These pieces are necessary for us to do a proof-of-concept, and persuade organizations to help fund the research and development for this technology.
