Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification refers to the decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans caused by the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The absorption of excessive amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is changing the chemistry of seawater by increasing the acidity and lowering seawater's naturally-occurring carbonate ion. These are essential to many marine organisms to grow their shells and skeletons. Ocean acidification reduces calcification rates in corals and may affect economically-important shellfish species such as oysters, scallops, mussels, clams and crabs.
Some organisms could benefit from ocean acidification, while others are negatively impacted Impacts may differ from one life stage to another. The overall effect may disrupt the normal ecosystem function of many marine and coastal ecosystems.
For more information
Materials from Evening Seminar
Ocean Acidification 101 - Terrie Klinger, University of Washington
Protecting Fisheries & Communities from Ocean Acidification - Brad Warren, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership
Current Research & Monitoring - Jan Newton, University of Washington and NANOOS
Articles
Crosscut - Rallying to save the souring seas and the Northwest's cherished oyster harvest
KING 5 - Carbon dioxide in oceans harm Washington's shellfish, panel says
Gov. Gregoire convenes panel to study ocean acidification
Kitsap Sun - Expert panel to address ocean acidification
Chinook Observer - Ocean acid will be studied by blue-ribbon panel
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
Links
Washington State Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS)
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, authorized by Congress, is nationally recognized as an innovative approach to bring sound science and an ecosystem perspective together with citizen energy and entrepreneurship.