Dr. Richard Feely (NOAA/PMEL) presents on “The Combined Effects of Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia” (Part 1) with Dr. Nina Bednarsek (Oregon State University) at our December 5th, 2024 Partnerships for Tribal Carbon Solutions workshop: Can Rocks Fix the Climate and Heal the Sea? Richard Feely from NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory discusses ocean acidification in the Pacific Northwest, one of the most vulnerable regions globally. He explains how rising atmospheric CO₂ leads to ocean acidification through chemical reactions that increase hydrogen ion concentration, lowering pH and reducing carbonate availability, which threatens calcifying marine organisms. He highlights how coastal upwelling and biological respiration amplify acidification, making subsurface waters particularly susceptible. Using models and observational data, he demonstrates that acidification is progressing rapidly, with pH declines exceeding EPA water quality criteria in some areas. He emphasizes that adding ocean alkalinity could counteract these changes, offering a potential strategy to mitigate acidification’s impacts.
Global Ocean Health, 29 January 2025. Video.
