NOAA and NSF Commission National Study of Ocean Acidification
20 October 2008
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have commissioned the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct the first comprehensive national study of how carbon dioxide emissions absorbed into the oceans may be altering fisheries, marine mammals, coral reefs, and other natural resources.
Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels is not only contributing to atmospheric climate change. These emissions are being absorbed into the oceans with potentially catastrophic effects on life in our oceans. Some of the most vulnerable species—clams, crabs, lobsters, mussels, shrimp, and scallops—are also some of the most important economically to the United States, representing half of the $4 billion annual value of all fish harvested in US waters.
—Dr. Steven A. Murawski, director of scientific programs and chief science advisor for NOAA’s Fisheries Service
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| The increasing amounts of CO2 absorbed by seawater is lowering pH with potential detrimental effect on a number of organisms. Click to enlarge. Source: NOAA |
The need for this national study was outlined by Congress in the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 2007.
Since the beginning of the industrial era, the oceans have absorbed about a third of all manmade carbon dioxide emissions released into the air. The ability of the oceans to absorb carbon dioxide emissions has reduced some of the harmful effects of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and on land. But scientists are finding that the continued, increased absorption of these gases is altering the biology and chemistry of oceans in fundamental ways.
Absorption of large amounts of carbon dioxide alters the chemistry of the oceans by reducing the pH of seawater. With increasing carbon dioxide in seawater, shellfish and corals cannot absorb enough calcium carbonate to build strong skeletons and shells. The greater acidity slows the growth and even dissolves ocean plant and animal shells. The decline of these valuable species would drastically harm US fisheries.
Any decline of these species would also have profound effects on entire ecosystems where shellfish and crustaceans provide food for many other species and coral provides habitat for fish. The effects of ocean acidification will potentially extend to coral reefs, marine plankton, other animals and plants.
The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences is putting together a panel of 10 to 12 scientists to undertake the 18-month study. The committee will be made up of scientists with expertise in chemical oceanography, paleooceanography, biological oceanography, physiology, marine ecology, resource economics, geochemistry, resource management, and ocean-climate modeling.
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Posted by: Mike | 20 October 2008 at 02:08 PM
Some time back early summer it was generally understood the scientific descriptor for lower pH is called "becoming less alkaline."
Average oceans pH is currently 8.2 Since we've previously entertained the discussion we might include a reference:
"In... the journal Science, scientists led by M. Debora Iglesias-Rodríguez of the National Oceanography Center at the University of Southampton in England and Paul Halloran, a graduate student at the University of Oxford, report that they found the exact opposite. The algae grew bigger in the more acidic water."
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/253385
Posted by: sulleny | 20 October 2008 at 04:52 PM
The oceans are a big place right?
In a related area, research is reported as finding very high levels of Pop's (persistent organic particles) in polar dwelling krill.
The pop's ascend from all evaporations and rain out in the polar seas. That whales are then eating two ton a day and concentrating these (20 years) persistent voc's through their feeding season in blubber.
When these whales migrate northward, they further concentrate the compounds as they live off fat reserves.
The original concentrations found in (7yo) krill are far higher than toxic doses if they were exposed over a shorter period.
The point is that who would have thought such a large system can work up these concentrations that may then threaten to collapse the marine ecosystem.
Sulleny,
That certain soft bodied corals and algae do relatively better in a slightly more acid enviro, but hard corals (and other fish with bony structures) don't just do worse, they cease. All made worse by smothering from the soft corals (algae).
So what can we learn from research? - If you read this and eat whales, get a blood test.
Posted by: arnold | 20 October 2008 at 05:19 PM
@ sulleny
"becoming less alkaline."
This is how my environmental chemistry text book describes CO2 absorption. To be fair, this press release was most likely written by anyone who has taken more than high school chemistry.
There is the language science and the language of fear mongering.
Posted by: Kit P | 20 October 2008 at 07:41 PM
Pop's persistent organic pollutants. Antarctic research studies Over 100 incl pcb, dioxin, ddt breakdown product ddd & dde.
Posted by: arnold | 20 October 2008 at 07:44 PM
Cant help you there, she put her name to the article and seems a credible person.
Monica Allen
Spokeswoman
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Washington, District of Columbia
Advisory Board Member
The Metcalf Institute
Description
The Metcalf Institute provides fellowships each year for journalists in print, broadcast, and electronic media to learn about science and the research process, from interpreting marine and environmental issues to understanding the principles of scientific research.
Metcalf programs include:
Annual Workshop for Journalists, a one-week immersion workshop that provides 12-14 journalists with basic scientific training in the field and laboratory.
News Executives Roundtable: Covering Climate Change, a one day workshop for top news executives in which leading climate scientists and economists outlined the science underlying one of the most important issues facing us today.
Posted by: arnold | 20 October 2008 at 08:09 PM
Hi all,
Not sure what was covered in the discussion on "becoming less alkaline", but that's certainly not the "scientific descriptor" of the process. It is, however, an incorrect way of describing what's going on that's currently often found in the popular press.
Human dumping of CO2 into the ocean (via the atmosphere) is depleting the carbonate ion (CO3(2-)) inventory in the world ocean (see below). When that concentration gets lower, further addition of CO2 becomes ever more acidifying to the water. The potential consequences of this process on (components of) ecosystems are a serious reason for concern, and research into this seems extremely justified, even though early studies on algal response indeed yield contradictive results.
***
(Actually, alkalnity does not change at all because of the ocean's uptake of CO2. The uptake /does/ however shift the speciation of carbonate species to release more free H+ into the water when carbonate ion concentrations become low. So seawater becomes more acidic without becoming more alkaline, which is one of those things that make carbonate chemistry so counter-intuitive....) :
CO2+H2O+CO3(2-) => 2HCO3(-)
that reaction 'eats' the 'natural' CO3(2-), and
when CO3(2-) becomes more and more limiting,
the following reaction becomes more common:
CO2+H2O => HCO3(-) + H(+)
And proton at the end is what causes the 'acidification'.
Cheers, svh.
Posted by: svh | 21 October 2008 at 12:40 AM
What we find remarkable is the near intelligent adjustments that these natural systems demonstrate to maintain stasis.
"Unexpected consequences of increasing CO2 and ocean acidity on marine production of DMS and CH2ClI: Potential climate impacts"
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2007/2006GL028139.shtml
Abstract freely available. It seems we have an example of research that provides an all important balance to ocean (acidification) decrease alkalinity discussions. It is a rather elegant system that would increase cloud formation and albedo in response to higher atmospheric CO2.
The ocean’s average pH worldwide, now roughly 8.4-8.2, has dropped about 0.1 since pre-industrial times. Scientists estimate that it could fall another 0.4 by 2100 if carbon emissions continue on their current trajectory.
We can reasonably expect carbon emissions to be half 2000 values in 50 years due to peak oil, electrification and conversion to non-fossil energy. Presumably these studies will model the 0.1 (+-)pH average change anticipated.
What we find remarkable is the near intelligent adjustments that these natural systems demonstrate to maintain stasis.
"Unexpected consequences of increasing CO2 and ocean acidity on marine production of DMS and CH2ClI: Potential climate impacts"
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2007/2006GL028139.shtml
Abstract freely available. It seems we have an example of research that provides an all important balance to ocean (acidification) decrease alkalinity discussions. It is a rather elegant system that would increase cloud formation and albedo in response to higher atmospheric CO2.
The ocean’s average pH worldwide, now roughly 8.4-8.2, has dropped about 0.1 since pre-industrial times. Scientists estimate that it could fall another 0.4 by 2100 if carbon emissions continue on their current trajectory.
We can reasonably expect carbon emissions to be half 2000 values in 50 years due to peak oil, electrification and conversion to non-fossil energy. Presumably these studies will model the 0.1 (+-)pH average change anticipated.
Posted by: sulleny | 21 October 2008 at 01:09 AM
NOTE: response specific to the svh claim, remains unpublished by GCC and "typepad" for no apparent reason.
Posted by: sulleny | 21 October 2008 at 01:17 AM
The growth of a single species is not de-facto evidence that no harm is being done. Coral is an ecosystem. By destroying the balance of that system, you can disrupt and destroy it.
Algae growth can be targeted simply be adding phosphates or organic waste into the system. This causes blooms that grow out and kill everything else. And this has happened in the past with corals and with more closed systems as lakes.
The Oceans have their own means of stabilization but that is slow to respond to the rate of change of CO2 put out by people.
Environmental change will of course create niches that a species could potentially exploit. It will naturally also destroy the niches of already established species, since those niches won't exist. Thats as simple as it gets.
Posted by: aym | 24 October 2008 at 09:14 AM