Acid Oceans Increasing Rapidly

We've known for a while that ocean acidification is a bad bad thing. Now new research into corals using boron isotopes indicates the world-ocean has become about one third of a pH unit more acid over the past fifty years, reports the Australian Research Council. The acidity is caused by a CO2 buildup in the atmosphere, which then dissolves into the oceans—a development likely to be lethal for animals with chalky skeletons, who just happen to comprise more than a third of the planet’s marine life.

Apparently this acidification is now taking place over decades, rather than centuries, as originally predicted, and is happening even faster in the cooler waters of the Southern Ocean than in the tropics. Corals and plankton with chalky skeletons rely on sea water saturated with calcium carbonate to form their skeletons. As acidity intensifies, it becomes harder to form their skeletons. According to Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of the University of Queensland: "Analysis of coral cores shows a steady drop in calcification over the last 20 years. . . When CO2 levels in the atmosphere reach about 500 parts per million, you put calcification out of business in the oceans." Atmospheric CO2 is presently 385 ppm, up from 305 in 1960. "It isn’t just the coral reefs which are affected—a large part of the plankton in the Southern Ocean, the coccolithophorids, are also affected. These drive ocean productivity and are the base of the food web which supports krill, whales, tuna and our fisheries. They also play a vital role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which could break down."

More alarmingly, recent experiments along Australia's Great Barrier Reef show that red calcareous algae—the glue that binds reefs together in turbulent waters—actually begin to dissolve at higher CO2 levels. "The risk is that this may begin to erode the Great Barrier Reef at a grand scale," says Hoegh-Guldberg.

So exactly where are our leaders, those slackers? What the hell is more important to attend to than this?

Julia Whitty is Mother Jones' environmental correspondent. You can read from her new book, The Fragile Edge, and other writings, here.

Comments

Remember Soylent Green?

The reports on the oceans?

How Edward G knew the jig was up and we were multi-toast?

Possibly the most prophetic movie ever made.

Posted by: stephen.marshall on 10/19/07 at 10:15 AM Respond

Some people only think about today. Take the $ and run. I will not be here in 100 years anyhow.

Well,it usually doesn't play out that way.

Posted by: Marita F. on 10/19/07 at 1:21 PM Respond

Corporate polluters have been allowed to respond to such revelations as are addressed supra by agreeing, when convenient, to the voluntary purchase of pollution rights or waivers which give the appearance of reducing their toxic contributions to the environment. Comforting, n'est pas?

Posted by: Frank on 10/19/07 at 2:39 PM Respond

Please support the Union of Concerned Scientist.org. The global issues are discussed and letters sent to the government politicians at this site. It is difficult to read thease reports without a idea of where to send support. The government of the United States obviously is ignorant of the facts.

Posted by: Sheryl Skoglund on 10/19/07 at 3:03 PM Respond

Thanks. This is why I read MJ.

Posted by: Steven Mandel on 10/20/07 at 4:44 PM Respond

Thanks. This is why I read MJ.

Posted by: Steven Mandel on 10/20/07 at 4:44 PM Respond

our leaders aren't leaders anymore...they are corprateers. They don't want to know and if they do, they will deny the science.

It is what's wrong with the world...greed has taken over.

Posted by: m on 10/21/07 at 6:24 PM Respond

To make matters worse, when acidity dissolves calcium carbonate, more CO2 is generated.

Posted by: Nick on 10/21/07 at 6:45 PM Respond

The impact of acidity on calcification is important, but I suspect it is just the visible tip of the iceberg. Anyone who doubts the effect of acidity on marine life should try keeping aquarium fish alive for 6-12 months without monitoring pH.

Posted by: George Daicos on 11/15/07 at 12:04 PM Respond

None of these unproven changes in the climate or oceans are "bad". They would be in fact "Good". I want shorter winters, warmer temperatures. All of you “green freaks” are just after the big government money grab for you're bogus research. That’s why its always “gloom and dome” from you idiots.

Alex Rain

Posted by: Alex Rain on 02/16/08 at 4:06 PM Respond

Alex, you are a non believer. Did you ever have the faith? Everybody has the faith, if you don't you are an odd ball. Join the happy train and be a "green freak". Your Mother Earth is calling you, come on over to us and be a true believer. 1984 is here 20 years late. The Siren calls, come Alex, come to us.

Posted by: Tree Lady on 02/17/08 at 7:48 AM Respond