Halifax Harbor Turns Bright Pink After Scientists Use Dye to Track Water Movement

In an intriguing incident, Canada's Halifax Harbor underwent a remarkable transformation, with its water turning a vivid shade of pink.

Pink Halifax Harbor

A team of scientists from Dalhousie University employed pink fluorescent dye, applying it to Nova Scotia Power's Tufts Cove Generating Station in Dartmouth. According to Interesting Engineering, the primary objective was to track the dynamic movement of the water and its contents.

The significance of this project lies in its potential to contribute to the fight against climate change. The envisioned impact is to facilitate the introduction of alkaline materials into the harbor, capable of capturing CO2 emissions.

Dr. Katja Fennel, the oceanographer leading this groundbreaking research, clarified it is just a small part of a much broader research endeavor. She emphasized the intricate nature of their efforts, underscoring the larger implications of this innovative study.

"The ultimate goal here is to test an idea for a technology that would help us reduce atmospheric CO2 and could be one tool in the toolbox for fighting climate change, basically," she stated.

In the experiment, 500 liters of dye were introduced into the cooling water outflow from the harbor's generating station. To address any environmental concerns, it's crucial to emphasize that the dye used is water-soluble and poses no harm.

Subsequently, the researchers deployed a fleet of boats, drones, and underwater robots to meticulously monitor the trajectory of the dye. This comprehensive tracking initiative aims to gain a thorough understanding of material movement within the harbor.

Implementing Addition of CO2-Capturing Alkaline into the Water

Fennel shared with CBC Radio's Maritime Noon that the valuable data gathered during this experiment will play a pivotal role in September. At that time, Dartmouth-based company Planetary Technologies will implement the addition of the CO2-capturing alkaline material into the water, marking a significant step forward in the process.

She stated that the ocean possesses a remarkable capacity for securely and enduringly storing CO2. She explained that this ability stems from the ocean's slight alkalinity, which is why it already retains a vast quantity of CO2-roughly 50 times the amount present in the atmosphere.

This insightful perspective, shared during the news radio discussion, sheds light on the ocean's crucial role in maintaining the balance of CO2 in our environment.

The introduction of the alkaline material aims to bolster the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, effectively removing this harmful greenhouse gas from the atmosphere and securely storing it within the water. However, before implementing this strategy, scientists need to assess its potential effectiveness through the utilization of pink dye, as a critical step in the evaluation process.

In order to establish the effectiveness of this approach in mitigating CO2 in the atmosphere, CTV news reported that it's essential to measure and accurately quantify the amount of CO2 being captured. She elaborated that dye serves as a valuable tool for this purpose, which will enable them to differentiate water that has undergone alkaline treatment.