TY - JOUR
T1 - Could artificial reoxygenation revitalize dying coastal seas?
AU - Slomp, C P
AU - Oschlies, A
AU - Altieri, A H
AU - Bach, L T
AU - Bopp, L
AU - Breitburg, D
AU - Canning, A
AU - Conley, D J
AU - Dai, M
AU - Dewitte, B
AU - Enevoldsen, H
AU - Ferrer, E M
AU - Galán, A
AU - Garcon, V
AU - Gregoire, M
AU - Gustafsson, B
AU - Gutierrez, D
AU - Handmann, P
AU - Hylén, A
AU - Isensee, K
AU - Lamond, R
AU - Li, M
AU - Limburg, K
AU - Montes, I
AU - Sterling, J
AU - Hwai, A Tan Shau
AU - Testa, J M
AU - Wallace, D
AU - Waniek, J J
AU - Yasuhara, M
PY - 2026/4
Y1 - 2026/4
N2 - 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. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.
AB - 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. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.
KW - artificial reoxygenation
KW - coastal waters
KW - eutrophication
KW - global warming
KW - oxygen loss
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105037436902&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105037436902&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/ae5e96
DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/ae5e96
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 1748-9326
VL - 21
JO - Environmental Research Letters
JF - Environmental Research Letters
IS - 8
M1 - 083004
ER -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 14 Life Below Water