Could artificial reoxygenation revitalize dying coastal seas?

Abstract Eutrophication and global warming are key drivers of oxygen loss, also termed deoxygenation, in coastal ecosystems worldwide. Artificial reoxygenation has been suggested as a local or regional solution to increase oxygen concentrations and improve water quality by various parties, including water managers and industry. Three main approaches have been proposed: (1) bubbling with air with the aim to destratify and mix the water column (2) injection of pure oxygen and (3) pumping of oxygenated water to greater water depths (downwelling). In this review, we summarize the results of recent field trials and other implementations of artificial reoxygenation in coastal systems, which, to date, only involve small bays and estuaries. We also discuss potential benefits and risks. While the recent trials indicate that reoxygenation of the water column can be achieved, low oxygen conditions returned rapidly within days to months of discontinuing operations. This illustrates that artificial reoxygenation typically only provides a temporary solution to deoxygenation. Potential side effects of artificial reoxygenation could include enhanced emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and, upon bubbling and destratification in shallow waters, also of methane. Additionally, downwelling could lead to warming and an associated increased oxygen demand near the seafloor. Reoxygenation will not necessarily reduce the nutrient availability for phytoplankton, implying that water quality may remain poor. We recommend a careful, case-by-case assessment of the suitability of artificial reoxygenation in coastal systems prior to implementation and monitoring before, during and after each intervention. Any field trials should involve all relevant parties, including scientists and local communities, and results should be reported with full transparency. While in the short-term, artificial reoxygenation may be useful to alleviate oxygen loss in some coastal systems, long-term improvements in the oxygen levels and quality of coastal waters require reductions in nutrient inputs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Environmental Research Letters
Published
2026-04-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ae5e96
Primary Topic
Marine and coastal ecosystems
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Could artificial reoxygenation revitalize dying coastal seas?

Caroline P. Slomp, Denise L. Breitburg, Andrew H. Altieri, Aileen Tan Shau Hwai et al.
Environmental Research Letters
Marine and coastal ecosystems
article

Could artificial reoxygenation revitalize dying coastal seas?

Caroline P. Slomp, Denise L. Breitburg, Andrew H. Altieri, Aileen Tan Shau Hwai, Erica M. Ferrer, Moriaki Yasuhara, Lennart T. Bach, Jeremy M. Testa, Astrid Hylén, Henrik Enevoldsen, Ivonne Montès, Andreas Oschlies, Doug Wallace, Karin E. Limburg, Alexander Galán, Ming Li, Marilaure Grégoire, Anna Canning, Jeremy T. Sterling, Veronique Camille Garcon, Rudy Lamond, Daniel Conley, Patricia Vera Klara Handmann, Laurent Bopp, Boris Dewitte, Minhan Dai, Kirsten Isensee, Joanna Waniek, Dimitri Gutierrez, Bo Gustafsson
article en

Abstract

Abstract Eutrophication and global warming are key drivers of oxygen loss, also termed deoxygenation, in coastal ecosystems worldwide. Artificial reoxygenation has been suggested as a local or regional solution to increase oxygen concentrations and improve water quality by various parties, including water managers and industry. Three main approaches have been proposed: (1) bubbling with air with the aim to destratify and mix the water column (2) injection of pure oxygen and (3) pumping of oxygenated water to greater water depths (downwelling). In this review, we summarize the results of recent field trials and other implementations of artificial reoxygenation in coastal systems, which, to date, only involve small bays and estuaries. We also discuss potential benefits and risks. While the recent trials indicate that reoxygenation of the water column can be achieved, low oxygen conditions returned rapidly within days to months of discontinuing operations. This illustrates that artificial reoxygenation typically only provides a temporary solution to deoxygenation. Potential side effects of artificial reoxygenation could include enhanced emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and, upon bubbling and destratification in shallow waters, also of methane. Additionally, downwelling could lead to warming and an associated increased oxygen demand near the seafloor. Reoxygenation will not necessarily reduce the nutrient availability for phytoplankton, implying that water quality may remain poor. We recommend a careful, case-by-case assessment of the suitability of artificial reoxygenation in coastal systems prior to implementation and monitoring before, during and after each intervention. Any field trials should involve all relevant parties, including scientists and local communities, and results should be reported with full transparency. While in the short-term, artificial reoxygenation may be useful to alleviate oxygen loss in some coastal systems, long-term improvements in the oxygen levels and quality of coastal waters require reductions in nutrient inputs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental Research LettersVol. 21(8)
UNESCO (FR), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Tasmania (AU), Dalhousie University (CA), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (DE), Universiti Sains Malaysia (MY), École Polytechnique (FR), Radboud University Nijmegen (NL), Institut de physique du globe de Paris (FR), University of Antwerp (BE), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (US), SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (US), University of Liège (BE), Stockholm University (SE), Lund University (SE), Xiamen University (CN), Air Liquide (United Kingdom) (GB), Catholic University of the Maule (CL), Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (DE), École Normale Supérieure - PSL (FR), University of Florida (US), GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (DE), Sorbonne Université (FR), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (FR), National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (US), École Normale Supérieure (BI), Instituto del Mar del Peru (PE), GEOMAR Technologie GmbH - GTG (DE), Instituto Geofísico del Perú (PE), Northcentral Arkansas Education Cooperative (US), Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (US), University of La Serena (CL), University of Hong Kong (HK), Sage (United Kingdom) (GB)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
Marine and coastal ecosystems
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.