Addressing the growing threat of climate change necessitates a multi-faceted approach. While reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains paramount, the scientific community increasingly recognizes the urgent need to actively remove and securely store carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. One of the most promising avenues in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology involves the permanent sequestration of CO₂ beneath the ocean floor in volcanic basalt formations. These unique geological structures offer a natural, rapid pathway to convert gaseous CO₂ into stable carbonate minerals, potentially locking away carbon for millennia without the risks associated with leakage.
Basalts — abundant volcanic rocks that cover approximately 10% of the Earth’s surface — possess distinct chemical and physical properties that make them attractive for CO₂ storage. When CO₂ is injected into basalt formations beneath the seabed, it reacts with the basalt minerals and interstitial seawater to form solid carbonates within a remarkably short time frame, often measured in years. This mineralization process contrasts sharply with conventional storage methods in sedimentary rocks, where CO₂ may remain in a supercritical fluid state and therefore be vulnerable to leakage. Recent pioneering field experiments in Iceland and the United States have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach, offering encouraging data that suggest the possibility of scaling up the technology to meet global climate goals.
Building on this foundation, an ambitious international research expedition aboard the research vessel MARIA S. MERIAN will explore the potential of flood basalt formations off the Norwegian continental margin. These flood basalts, formed by extensive volcanic activity millions of years ago, represent some of the largest basalt provinces on Earth and could theoretically sequester thousands of gigatons of CO₂—far exceeding the planet’s current annual CO₂ emissions. The main objective of this expedition is to meticulously characterize the physical, chemical, and geophysical properties of these basalts beneath the North Sea to evaluate their suitability for long-term CO₂ storage.
Leading this effort, Dr. Ingo Klaucke, a geologist from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, emphasizes the critical research question: can the basalt formations below the seabed reliably store CO₂ in a permanent and safe manner? To answer this, the expedition will apply high-resolution geophysical surveying techniques, including advanced 2D and 3D seismic reflection and refraction, as well as electromagnetic profiling. These methods will illuminate the internal structure and composition of the basalt layers, providing essential parameters such as acoustic wave velocities and electrical resistivities. Such data are crucial for building detailed models of rock density and fluid flow, factors that strongly influence storage capacity and seal integrity.
Modern computational methods, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), will play a pivotal role in interpreting the vast datasets gathered during the mission. Machine learning algorithms will help detect subtle anomalies and correlations within seismic and electromagnetic data, enhancing the predictive accuracy of CO₂ storage models. Beyond simply identifying suitable storage locales, the project also aims to develop robust, remote monitoring techniques capable of detecting early-warning signs of CO₂ leakage through changes in geophysical signatures. This capability is vital to ensure environmental safety and build public trust in subsea carbon storage technologies.
The chosen study site, the Skoll High on the Vøring Plateau, features extensive basaltic lava layers identified in previous drilling expeditions. These layers offer a natural laboratory to explore how CO₂ could interact with basalt beneath the continental shelf. Characterizing the porosity, fracture networks, and mineralogy within these flood basalts is essential to understanding how injected CO₂ might migrate and mineralize over time. By integrating seismic, electromagnetic, and petrophysical data, researchers will strive to map the three-dimensional distribution and connectivity of basalt flows and any overlying sediments that could serve as impermeable seals.
Aside from its scientific significance, the deployment of CCS in offshore basalt formations carries logistical and economic considerations. One notable advantage is that many basalt provinces lie far offshore, typically in deep waters with minimal competing uses compared to shallower shelf seas like the North Sea. This geographic factor may reduce potential conflicts with fisheries, shipping lanes, and coastal development, providing an environmental and social benefit. Nevertheless, transporting captured CO₂ to such remote sites would necessitate specialized infrastructure and tanker operations, which could elevate costs and complicate large-scale deployment.
The upcoming voyage also contributes to broader oceanographic monitoring goals. During the transit to the Norwegian coast, the research team plans to deploy ARGO floats northeast of Iceland. These autonomous instruments collect long-term temperature, salinity, and current data, helping close gaps in the global ocean observation network. By enhancing monitoring capabilities in this vital but under-sampled region, the expedition supports a fuller understanding of ocean dynamics that influence climate systems and carbon cycling.
This expedition forms part of the international PERBAS project (PERmanent sequestration of gigatons of CO₂ in continental margin BASalt deposits), a consortium of ten scientific and industrial partners from Germany, Norway, the USA, and India. Coordinated by GEOMAR, PERBAS seeks to push the frontiers of CCS research by developing a systematic characterization of marine basalt reservoirs, validating geophysical characteristics, and evaluating operational and monitoring practicability. Funded with €3.6 million over three years through the European Research Area Network’s ACT initiative, PERBAS stands at the cutting edge of carbon sequestration science, aiming to bridge the gap between conceptual studies and real-world deployment.
Looking ahead, the project’s culmination will involve a field-scale CO₂ injection experiment into flood basalts off Norway’s coast, intended to demonstrate feasibility and safety under operational conditions. Realizing such a milestone will require substantial investment and collaboration with industry stakeholders, underscoring the importance of public-private partnerships in the climate technology arena. If successful, the technique could revolutionize how humanity addresses the pressing challenge of carbon emissions, providing a robust, scalable path towards permanent carbon removal.
Beyond technological and scientific breakthroughs, the exploration of basalt-hosted carbon storage represents a compelling example of innovative climate solutions emerging from interdisciplinary research. By harnessing Earth’s natural geological capacity to convert CO₂ into rock, scientists are transforming theoretical concepts into tangible strategies with global impact. Flood basalts, once ancient landscapes sculpted by volcanic fire, may soon become critical allies in humanity’s fight against climate change, securing gigatons of carbon safely beneath the ocean floor for generations to come.
Subject of Research:
Carbon dioxide storage in marine basalt formations beneath the seabed for climate change mitigation.
Article Title:
Permanent CO₂ Sequestration in Subsea Flood Basalts: Exploring a Frontier in Climate Change Mitigation
News Publication Date:
Not specified (Expedition dates: 4 September – 9 October 2025)
Web References:
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Image Credits:
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Keywords:
Marine geology, Climate change, Climate change mitigation, Anthropogenic climate change, Sea floor, Observational studies, Sedimentary rocks
