Ocean Acidification
Senator Maria Cantwell hosted a Senate field hearing in Seattle on May 27 at the Seattle Aquarium. Representative Jay Inslee participated and asked questions of the panel of experts that included: Dr. Christopher Sabine from NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Lab; Dr. Terrie Klinger from University of Washington School of Marine Affairs and NWS Commissioner; Professor Ed Miles also from UW School of Marine Affairs; Dr. Jeff Koenings, Director of Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife; Brett Bishop, shellfish grower; and Kevin Ranker, San Juan Councilmember. The hearing brought attention to the issue of carbon sequestering in the oceans which is causing an increase in acidity that is certain to have serious environmental impacts.
Ocean acidification articles and links:
The Seattle Times - Acidified ocean water rising up nearly 100 years earlier than scientists predicted
Science Daily - Ocean Acidification: Another Undesired Side Effect Of Fossil Fuel-burning
NOAA - International Scientists Find ‘Acidified’ Water on the Continental Shelf from Canada to Mexico
Nature - Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms (abstract only)
Fact Sheets
NOAA - Carbon dioxide and Our Ocean Legacy
NOAA - State of the Science