As more carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere, our oceans become increasingly acidic -- and faster than previously thought. Scientists have been monitoring the acidity of seawater around an island off Washington state since 2000. The acidity, they report, has increased ten times faster than climate models predicted. The increase in carbon dioxide emissions from human activities has led to a 30% rise in ocean acidity over the last 200 years.

Of course, at stake are entire ecosystems, and the fishing and tourism industries that depend on them.

Here's how it works: Atmospheric carbon dioxide dissovles in the oceans and forms carbonic acid. As the water acidity increases, the calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of many marine species corrode. So mussels and other shellfish start to decline in numbers, throwing off the balance of competing and non-competiting species alike. Some species, including smaller barnacles and calcium-based seaweeds, actually fare better under the different conditions.

This is the first data on ocean acidity from temperate waters, and more research is needed in both temperate and tropical waters, researchers say. But the study is typical of other climate change research, says one marine biologist, who laments, "almost without exception things are turning out to be worse than we originally thought."

Source: National Geographic

Comments (2)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Runescape GOld
written by Runescape GOld, July 05, 2009

Frogster Runescape Gold announces アイオン-aion-RMT the Runescape Money expansion Get Box Sets of Buy Runescape Gold free MMORPG Runescape Gold Runes chanel watches of Magic, Buy Runescape Money“The Elven Runescape Money Prophecy”Runescape Gold For Sale or Prophecy of the Elves, which Runescape Power Leveling incorporates an chanel watches increased level リネージュ2 RMT limit to the Runescape game in Runescape Money For Sale addition to new chanel j12 watches areas, and two new quest.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

wrdew
written by Chanel Handbags, October 28, 2009

http://famousbrandshop.com/christian-louboutin

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment