Minimizing CO2 emissions is important to alleviate this threat.The acidity of Antarcticas coastal waters might double by the end of the century, threatening whales, penguins, and hundreds of other types that inhabit the Southern Ocean, according to new CU Boulder research.Scientists predicted that by 2100, the upper 650 feet (200 meters) of the ocean– where much marine life resides– could see more than a 100% boost in acidity compared with 1990s levels. Ocean Acidification: A Consequence of CO2 EmissionsThe oceans play an essential function as a buffer against environment change by absorbing almost 30% of the CO2 produced worldwide. “Human-caused CO2 emissions are at the heart of ocean acidification,” stated Cara Nissen, the papers first author and a research study scientist at INSTAAR.A pteropod shell is shown liquifying over time in seawater with a lower pH. When carbon dioxide is soaked up by the ocean from the environment, the chemistry of the seawater is changed. Ocean currents in the area also contribute to the relatively acidic water conditions.Model Predictions and Marine Protected AreasUsing a computer model, Nissen, Lovenduski, and the team simulated how the seawater of the Southern Ocean would alter in the 21st century.”As a scientist who generally studies the open ocean, I tend to believe of Antarctic coastal areas as a conduit for environment signals to reach the worldwide, deep ocean.
Reducing CO2 emissions is important to alleviate this threat.The acidity of Antarcticas coastal waters could double by the end of the century, threatening whales, penguins, and hundreds of other species that inhabit the Southern Ocean, according to new CU Boulder research.Scientists forecasted that by 2100, the upper 650 feet (200 meters) of the ocean– where much marine life lives– could see more than a 100% boost in acidity compared with 1990s levels. “Human-caused CO2 emissions are at the heart of ocean acidification,” stated Cara Nissen, the papers very first author and a research study researcher at INSTAAR.A pteropod shell is revealed liquifying over time in seawater with a lower pH. When carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean from the atmosphere, the chemistry of the seawater is altered. Ocean currents in the location also contribute to the relatively acidic water conditions.Model Predictions and Marine Protected AreasUsing a computer design, Nissen, Lovenduski, and the group simulated how the seawater of the Southern Ocean would alter in the 21st century.
