The Ocean as Carbon Sink: A Double Edged Sword - Part 2 or 3 ...
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(Justmeans.com / CSR News) - E ditor’s note: This article is the second in a three-part series that investigates the connections among increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, the ocean’s role in absorbing carbon dioxide and the effect on marine ecosystems, and what happens to atmospheric oxygen levels when the base of the food chain—phytoplankton—dies off. . Likely, the ocean will continue absorbing carbon until it reaches a saturation point, but at a slower rate due to warmer temperatures. The ocean’s role as a carbon sink and the implications of warming for this part of the carbon cycle is a hot topic of research news lately, especially at the University of Wisconsin.
The Ocean & Climate Change
The uptake of CO concentrations, the acidity of the ocean also increases (see graph above). The global mean ocean surface pH has already decreased from 8.16 to 8.05 since the year 1850 (lower pH represents higher acidity). Since the pH scale is logarithmic, this is a 30% increase in acidity.
Acid Test
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes projections for future CO concentrations range from around 530 ppm to 940 ppm by the year 2100, depending on the emissions scenario. Under these conditions, ocean acidity is expected to increase, with pH values dropping to between 7.7 and 8.0 by the year 2100 (see graph below).
The main reason ocean acidification is of concern is the effect it may have on the marine ecosystem . The carbonic acid formed from dissolved CO releases bicarbonate along with the hydrogen ion responsible for acidification. Bicarbonate formation deprives calcifying organisms of the carbonate needed to form their shells or skeletal structure. Coral reefs (which provide habitat for sea life) and phytoplankton and pteropods (which serve as the base of the food chain) are particularly at risk. Diminishing food sources and habitat threatens larger species, such as cod and mackerel, many of which we rely on economically and nutritionally.
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