Ocean Acidification Research Paper
Discussion Section-1
November 17, 2011
The other CO₂ Problem
Todays oceans are not the same as they once were prior to the industrial revolution. The ocean serves as a reservoir for the worlds green house gasses. The increase in anthropogenic CO₂ has also resulted in an increase in the uptake by the ocean of CO₂. As a result of this uptake, the ocean is becoming progressively more and more acidic. This acidification of the ocean is expected to have great impacts on marine ecosystems. Coral reefs are among the most recognized ecosystems threatened by ocean acidification. It has been found that the lower pH of the ocean hinders calcification of many reef organisms. Ocean acidification affects coral growth in primary polyps, and has also …show more content…
During this time the concentration of carbon dioxide in the ocean was relatively constant. Since then carbon dioxide concentrations have been increasing rapidly from year to year at a rate of > 2ppm/yr (Wei et al. 2009). Prior to the industrial revolution atmospheric carbon dioxide was at the level of ~280ppm ( Vernon et al., 2009), and has risen to today level of ~388.92ppm (as measured by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography as of November 4, 2011). The fact that the ocean is progressively getting more acidic with the increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration cannot be argued. There is much debate, however, as to how and to what extent decreasing pH has and will effect marine ecosystems. The role that ocean acidification plays in the degradation of coral reefs is an area of constant debate. The purpose of this paper is examine the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs at multiple levels. These levels include: the calcification rates of the coral reef community, the competitive interaction among corals and macroalgae, and the development and settlement of coral primary polyps. For the purpose of this paper, a review of various scientific studies will be conducted to formulate a conclusion as to how each of these different factors are affected by the current pH of the ocean. and will be affected at the low predicted pH of the
November 17, 2011
The other CO₂ Problem
Todays oceans are not the same as they once were prior to the industrial revolution. The ocean serves as a reservoir for the worlds green house gasses. The increase in anthropogenic CO₂ has also resulted in an increase in the uptake by the ocean of CO₂. As a result of this uptake, the ocean is becoming progressively more and more acidic. This acidification of the ocean is expected to have great impacts on marine ecosystems. Coral reefs are among the most recognized ecosystems threatened by ocean acidification. It has been found that the lower pH of the ocean hinders calcification of many reef organisms. Ocean acidification affects coral growth in primary polyps, and has also …show more content…
During this time the concentration of carbon dioxide in the ocean was relatively constant. Since then carbon dioxide concentrations have been increasing rapidly from year to year at a rate of > 2ppm/yr (Wei et al. 2009). Prior to the industrial revolution atmospheric carbon dioxide was at the level of ~280ppm ( Vernon et al., 2009), and has risen to today level of ~388.92ppm (as measured by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography as of November 4, 2011). The fact that the ocean is progressively getting more acidic with the increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration cannot be argued. There is much debate, however, as to how and to what extent decreasing pH has and will effect marine ecosystems. The role that ocean acidification plays in the degradation of coral reefs is an area of constant debate. The purpose of this paper is examine the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs at multiple levels. These levels include: the calcification rates of the coral reef community, the competitive interaction among corals and macroalgae, and the development and settlement of coral primary polyps. For the purpose of this paper, a review of various scientific studies will be conducted to formulate a conclusion as to how each of these different factors are affected by the current pH of the ocean. and will be affected at the low predicted pH of the