Ocean Acidification

[David Chase Brewster]

It is apparent that climate change is a significant problem as we move into the 21st century.  Most of the press concentrates on the effects anthropogenic carbon and increased temperature, yet it appears there are other significant problems stemming from the ever increasing use of fossil carbon to the global system.  

Perhaps a dual focus on the observed effects of a warming climate and the effects on the world oceans may be a better approach to convince people this is a real problem that must be addressed now.  It seems a concentration of the effects through changes in temperature and weather are not as convincing as the measured changes in ocean chemistry.

http://ic.ucsc.edu/~acr/eart254/Doneyetal2009.pdf

[Simon Gosling]

There is, however, considerable debate over how ocean acidification will effect marine calcifying organisms. Much of the discrepencies do seem to be associated with methodological inconsistencies between studies, however, which by no means alleviates the need for action to reduce further ocean acidification of the oceans.

[David Chase Brewster]

I agree - it appears just from a mass balance (carbon budget) that this problem may be more significant due to the retention times in the sea. I have read several articles that speak to the capacity of the sea to absorb carbon dioxide, yet they don't seem to address the effects very well. From a chemistry point of view we know the equilibrium has been altered and long term measurements show a drop in pH. Since atmospheric carbon levels are projected to continue to increase, irrespective of the studies - we expect this change to continue. We also expect that at some atmospheric concentration the increase in the rate of change will exceed the oceans capacity to absorb the excess - which also implies the rate of change in the atmospheric should also increase.

[Simon Gosling]

Indeed, and there is now more and more evidnce from modelling studies that shows acidificiation increases under ramped CO2 experiments, irresepctive of the degree of global-mean warming...

[David Chase Brewster]

I think the most salient point is that regardless of the discrepancies in the methodologies - they all point in the same direction. Will we ever have enough data, most likely no, especially if we try to please the fossil carbon producers. However, purely from a mass balance view - the problem is significant.

[David Chase Brewster]

Here is another link some may find interesting
http://www.epoca-project.eu/