Ocean Acidification
Ocean Acidification occurs when atmospheric CO2 is absorbed by the ocean. As the CO2 dissolves, the ocean’s pH declines, becoming more acidic. Unlike climate change, acidification is easy to prove. It is simple water chemistry; it is measurable, and it is clearly happening. Over the past 200 years, CO2 absorption has caused the ocean’s pH to decline by .1 (30%). This is 100 times faster than any change experienced in the ocean over the past 20 million years. If we continue to produce CO2 at the current rate, the ocean’s pH could drop another .3 units by 2100 – a 150% increase in acidity.
These changes threaten many forms of marine life. In general, any organisms that rely on calcium carbonate to form shells have increasing difficulty doing so as oceans acidify. This means that many forms of plankton, which form the base of the food web, may literally dissolve. In addition, coral reefs have difficulty rebuilding in acidic oceans, and are less resilient. If the base of the food web is decimated, and the reefs which provide nurseries for many critical species disappear, the ripple effects could be devastating for ocean health.
Clearly, action is needed, and in 2009 three Ocean Champions in Congress, Representatives Markey, Baird and Senator Lautenberg took a leadership role in introducing legislation that will address ocean acidification.
- Congressmen Markey and Inslee introduced H. Res. 989 in December of 2009 calling for the U.S. to adopt national policies and pursue international agreements to prevent ocean acidification, to study the impacts of ocean acidification, and to address the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
- Congressmen Markey and Waxman introduced H.R. 2454 American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 in May of 2009, to create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy. In June, the bill passed the House and awaits passage in the Senate.
- Congressman Baird and Senator Lautenberg introduced H.R.14 and S.173 (respectively) in January of 2009 : The Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 provides for ocean acidification research and monitoring.
Insight into Ocean Acidification
- ABC News Story
- http://www.ocean-acidification.net/
- NOAA’s Jane Lubchenco on restoring science to U.S. climate policy
- NOAA’s PMEL (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)
- NOAA’s Richard Freely (source: www.pmel.noaa.gov)
- WHOI Senior Scientist’s Testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
O.C. Blog Posts
Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification