Global warming turning sea into acid bath (Warning: Hyperbolic overload!)

The Times ^ | 6/9/2008 | Mark Henderson

[markomalley]

Increasing carbon dioxide emissions could leave species such as coral and sea urchins struggling to survive by the end of the century because they are making the oceans more acidic, research led by British scientists suggests.

The study of how acidification affects marine ecosystems has revealed a striking impact on animal and plant life. The findings, from a team led by Jason Hall-Spencer, of the University of Plymouth, indicate that rising carbon emissions will alter the biodiversity of the seas profoundly, even before the effects of global warming are taken into account.

Greater concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere mean that more of the gas becomes dissolved in seawater, increasing its acidity. This will have good consequences for some species, but be catastrophic for others.

Dr Hall-Spencer's team investigated the likely effects of acidification by studying natural underwater vents off the coast of Italy, where carbon dioxide bubbles up through the sea floor. This makes the water around the vents significantly more acidic than it is in surrounding areas.

The study, published in the journal Nature, shows that certain species are very badly affected by rising acidity. Corals of the Caryophyllia, Cladocora and Balanophyllia varieties, for example, were common in on the sea bed in the region, but absent close to the vents. Sea urchins and sea snails were also affected badly by the high acidity.

Other species, including sea-grass and a type of algae known as Sargassum, thrived as the extra carbon dioxide has a fertilising effect. This extra growth, however, can be damaging to other sea life - Sargassum is an alien invasive species, carried to the region in the ballast of shipping.

The research team is the first to use natural underwater carbon dioxide vents to assess how acidity caused by the gas influences sea life. “Our field studies provide a window on the future of the oceans in a high CO2 world,” Dr Hall-Spencer said.

“We show the dramatic ecological consequences of ocean acidification including the removal of corals, snails and sea urchins and the proliferation of invasive alien algae.

“Our observations verify concerns, based on laboratory experiments and model predictions, that marine food webs will be severely disrupted and major ecological tipping-points are likely if human CO2 emissions continue unabated.”

This appraisal of life in a more acidic ocean was if anything conservative, Dr Hall-Spencer said, because it mimicked future ecosystems only partially.

The acidity around carbon dioxide vents can be reduced by rough conditions, which dilute the water - something that would not happen if the whole ocean was highly acidic.

The researchers also noted that while fish continued to swim through more acidic waters, they avoided breeding or spawning in them. “That isn't a problem at the moment, as they can go elsewhere,” Dr Hall-Spencer said. “But in a more acidic ocean there will be no escape.”

Global warming will also have an independent impact on sea life, by raising ocean temperatures.

[The_Reader_David]

Humbug. Warming water with disolved CO_2 causes the CO_2 to effervesce out. (As a pointed example, beer goes flat sooner when it’s warm.) This is why throughout geologic history CO_2 levels are a trailing indicator of global mean temperature.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

“The study of how acidification affects marine ecosystems has revealed a striking impact on animal and plant life. The findings, from a team led by Jason Hall-Spencer, of the University of Plymouth, indicate that rising carbon emissions will alter the biodiversity of the seas profoundly, even before the effects of global warming are taken into account.”

I did not notice anywhere in the article that backed up the statement that “indicate that rising carbon emissions will alter the biodiversity of the seas profoundly,” has actually happened. All I saw was that a study was done because there are areas in the seas and oceans that naturally emit carbon Dioxide.

Here is my question: Are the areas around these natural emission preventing some types of life from being in the area? or are these areas more acidic because those types of life forms are not in the area (in other words, this has nothing to do with carbon emissions)?

Also, I did not find any reason to think that more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would, necessarily be absorbed into the ocean and sea water. This appears to be a presumption without any evidence backing it up.

[lainie]

The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution

[Misterioso]

The End Times have arrived. Prepare the Kool Aid!

[Disciplinemisanthropy]

where is this happening?? i need to know to, uh, avoid that area.

[cogitator]

A “wow” bump.