		Home > Earth & Climate > Oceans acidifying much faster than was thought: study

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:12:00

Oceans acidifying much faster than was thought: study

When the carbon dioxide dissolves in water it forms carbonic acid.

University of Chicago and World Science staff

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The oceans are becoming more acidic, and much faster than previously thought, scientists say. The process, a possible threat to some ocean life, seems to be linked with rising levels of atmospheric gases that are blamed for global warming, according to the researchers.

University of Chicago scientists detailed the new findings in a paper published online by the research journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nov. 24. The study is based on 24,519 measurements of ocean acidity spanning eight years.

During that time, “the acidity increased more than 10 times faster” than climate change models and other studies had predicted, said the university’s J. Timothy Wootton, lead author of the study. “This increase will have a severe impact on marine food webs.”

Wootton and colleagues said the process seems to be occuring in step with increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a key “greenhouse gas,” a compound that researchers say acts as a large-scale blanket in the atmosphere, trapping heat on Earth and thus driving global warming.

When the carbon dioxide dissolves in water it forms carbonic acid. Abnormally acidic water harms certain sea animals, the authors said. “Many sea creatures have shells or skeletons made of calcium carbonate, which the acid can dissolve,” said the university’s Catherine Pfister, a co-author of the study.

They added that the acidity could reduce the ocean’s ability to soak up more carbon dioxide, a process which some have hoped would mitigate climate change.

Source: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/081126_acid

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