Tuesday, May 19, 2026 – 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Event Details
The ocean and other water bodies absorb nearly a third of human-emitted carbon dioxide (CO2). However, once dissolved, CO2 lowers the water’s pH, and makes it more acidic—a phenomenon known as ocean acidification. In coastal waters like Chesapeake Bay, acidification plays out differently than in the open ocean. In this talk, SERC ecologist Whitman Miller will explore the surprising role marine biota play in coastal acidification. He’ll also reveal how emerging technology and automated measurements are painting a new, more dynamic picture of coastal water bodies, where chemistry can shift drastically between day and night, between tides and between seasons—and what these shifts mean for life in coastal waters more broadly.
This event is part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)’s free evening science talks, and it will be recorded! Closed captions will be available during the live stream and on the recording. By signing up on Zoom, you’ll be able to watch live and receive a link to the recording a few days after the live stream. SERC seeks to showcase a wide variety of topics and perspectives for its evening science talks. Views expressed during these talks belong to the individual speakers and not the Smithsonian.
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Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 16 April 2026. More information.
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