An experiment to find out what would happen if there was a carbon dioxide leak under the sea gets underway in a Highland bay today.
The project in Ardmucknish Bay between North Connel and Benderloch, near Oban, involves a partnership of scientists – some from as far away as Japan.
The experiment will investigate environmental impacts from Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), a process aiming to cut our carbon dioxide emissions.
The process captures carbon dioxide at fossil fuel power stations and stores it at depth beneath the ground, often deep under the seabed. This locks the carbon dioxide away, where it may otherwise contribute to climate change.
However, scientists must learn what would happen in the event of a leak.
Carbon dioxide will be released under the seabed at Ardmucknish over 30 days. It will be pumped through a borehole that terminates 32ft below the sediment surface. It will be released around 0.2 miles from the shore in water depths of 30-35ft.
Effects will be monitored using sensors, acoustic techniques and from diver-collected sediment cores. Both the seabed and water will be monitored for at three months beyond the 30-day release period.
The lead partner is the project is Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The Scottish Marine Institute at Dunstaffnage, close to Ardmucknish, is also involved.
Dr Henrik Stahl, a scientist at Dunstaffnage, said: “We plan to mimic, on a very small scale and under controlled conditions, a carbon dioxide leak event and monitor how the ecosystem is impacted and how quickly it recovers.”