Speaker
Description
The mitigation of climate change has stood at the forefront of interest in the interface of mathematics, biology, and chemistry. Recently, direct carbon dioxide removal strategies have been examined which include direct ocean capture, as well as direct air capture. However, the structural and dynamical properties of these expanded carbon cycle models have yet to be explored. We apply methods in chemical reaction network theory (CRNT) to analyze the kinetic properties of these systems. Beyond identifying steady states, we also look at possibilities for multistationarity signaling crucial tipping points in the carbon cycle. We examine the conditions for independence of steady states to starting values and the capability for carbon concentration reduction. Finally, through the methods of flux balance analysis, we present a linear programming technique to show the capability of the carbon cycle to reduce overall free carbon dioxide concentration in both atmosphere and oceans. Our results do not only propose mechanisms to mitigate climate change, but give a consistent approach to analyze other carbon dioxide removal techniques in a general carbon cycle system.
