Ocean acidification

Ketchikan, Alaska – Follow along as I tour the M/V Columbia with environmental technician Christen Harrington from the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). Harrington shoes us the testing apparatus set up several years ago to sample the ocean pH levels as the vessel goes about its itinerary.

Continue reading ‘Ocean acidification sampling project on the M/V Columbia (video)’

In the mid- to late 2000s, the marine science and policy community was grappling with a newly recognized threat to the ocean: the insidious changing of ocean chemistry due to the absorption of human produced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It was becoming clear that the influx of CO2, which results in a series of chemical reactions that makes sea water more acidic and reduces the availability of carbonate ions, posed a serious threat to marine calcifiers—such as corals and molluscs—which use carbonate ions to create their shells and skeletons. Many of the scientists, both within research institutions and civil society organizations, realized that was an issue that needed to be brought to the attention of policy-makers, and quickly. But, it was unclear how best to do that, especially given the ongoing politicization and highly partisan politics that characterized the US climate change discussions of the time.

Continue reading ‘Reframing ocean acidification in the context of the UNFCCC’

Picture this: you are visiting a tropical paradise known for their brightly colored coral reefs, unique aquatic life, and crystal-clear water. After diving into the water, the only emotion going through your head is a sense of feeling underwhelmed. The coral is all but colorful, the white ghostly skeletons of the coral covering the ocean floor.

This devastating change is called bleaching which is caused by ocean acidification.

Ocean acidification is the decrease in the pH of the ocean due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With the increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere through the continuously expanding emissions of fossil fuels, it is predicted that about 90% of all coral reef locations are going to experience severe bleaching by the year 2055. Scientists believe that dire actions need to be taken after receiving the results from this study, showing a bleak future for the coral reefs.

Continue reading ‘Coral reefs may have less time than expected due to ocean acidification and bleaching’

Antarctica possesses a current that circles the terra firma as segment of the Southern Ocean. The current is known as Antarctic Circumpolar Current. When the westerly winds reinforces in the time of the Southern Hemisphere’s summer waters south of the current acidify swiftly than can be considered for in CO2 from the atmosphere. The contradictory method can be witnessed north of the current.

In a recent study carried out it is observed that these influences are because of a merger of procedures propelled by these westerly winds. Comprehending the characteristics that dominate ocean acidification is vital for prophesying the influence the altering chemistry of the ocean will have on marine life form and ecosystems in the future. The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, is a crucial place to observe these techniques because of its immense capacity to reserve carbon dioxide from the atmosphere a decisive constituent of climate change.

Continue reading ‘Winds possess solution to climate change retraction’

© Milos Prelevic

There are few systems more complex—and more beautiful—than our natural ecosystems. Each element is like a Jenga piece—together, the pieces fit together perfectly, but when your tower begins to wobble, it can be hard to determine exactly where the critical weak points are. And just like a game of Jenga, we often have a hard time figuring out which piece will make the tower fall—or, in the case of an ecosystem, diagnosing exactly what drives ecosystem transformation. Thankfully, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Ocean Acidification Program and the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have recently teamed up to provide $3.5 million to four regional projects designed to look at this question that confounds resource management—is there a “tipping point” at which ecosystems change quickly due to specific factors, such as ocean acidification, warming and other progressive regional changes?

Continue reading ‘NOAA awards $3.5 million to research impact of acidification on complex ecosystems’