The Other Carbon Dioxide Problem

Fundamental changes in seawater chemistry are occurring throughout the world's oceans. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from humankind's industrial and agricultural activities has increased the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. The ocean absorbs almost a third of the CO2 we release into the atmosphere every year, so as atmospheric CO2 levels increase, so do the levels in the ocean. Initially, many scientists focused on the benefits of the ocean removing this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. However, decades of ocean observations now show that there is also a downside — the CO2 absorbed by the ocean is changing the chemistry of the seawater, a process called ocean acidification. This change in the ocean's chemistry will have profound effects on life in the ocean, and those who depend on it.

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  Science & Technology

[MontyHallsSenior]

2013 - Work on OA/ phytoplankton is ongoing. The impact on various zooplankton species (eg. coccolithophores) is known - more energy required to form the aragonite exo-skeleton. The rate of regrowth of various corals (e.g. porites) is inhibited by increasing OA.. Red corals ( the 'mortar' binding together coral structures) is also very susceptible to OA, lowering coral resistence to storm turbulence. Non-CO2 -polluting energy sourcing (geothermal and photovoltaic) hold the key.to resolution

[Philip McRevice]

lol fraudulent science. I gotta hand it to you. Spreading lies for more government handouts. Every scientist knows 99% of the earths CO2 comes from the ocean. And that man contributes maybe .03% into the atmosphere. Only the good honest scientists will admit it. Give it a rest. Put it to sleep

[mphello]

What does "30% of atmospheric CO2 is absorbed the oceans" mean?

Does that mean all the CO2 that had ever been put into the atmosphere by man since the start of the industrial period has since been absorbed by the oceans?

If not that, then what? Only a differential RATE makes sense. X = amount of CO2 in atm at time, t, Y = amount of CO2 in ocean at time t. dY/dt = k*X for some k>0. Then it makes sense to ask what is the rate constant, k=?

[Lynn Pritchett]

Part of the problem, too, is an increasing population of human beings who exhale CO2 and cut down forests. Plants intake carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to produce glucose, oxygen, and water. We can help by using clean energy sources and planting more trees and gardens.

[Paul Ruggeri]

gusbailey - your comment makes absolutely no sense.

[CRIS BROCKWAY]

@ below comment: huh?

[gusbailey68]

What are the effects of acidification on phytoplankton?

This video seems to draw a broad conclusion from a single data point.

The reduction of CO- is counter intuitive since it was shown that CO2 is being dissolved due to the purportedly higher partial pressure.

The non-linear increase in logarithmic H+ is also very general and deserves attribution.

[crazybikefortdodge]

Wow wwjd