By: Miriam Goldstein

Miriam Goldstein — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:50:01 +0000

Sorry, that was a typo above. I did mean to type that CO2 "lowers" rather than "raises" the pH - it's now corrected. Anyway, though I understand your point, "ocean acidification" is currently the most widely used name for this phenomenon. (1,2,3). Technically, I suppose, the most accurate name might be "decrease in carbonate ion saturation" but I was trying to be quick, and as you say, the chemistry is complicated. As for the 1,000,000 species figure, I think the jury is legitimately out. We can argue about whether being alarmist is the best strategy, but acidification has indeed been linked to mass extinction in the geologic past. (For example, Zachos et al. 2005 ).

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:25:12 +0000

Miriam, I’m sorry, but you’ve got the details wrong here. I hope the documentary is less misleading, but I won’t count on it because of the 1,000,000 species remark on the title card showing at Deep Sea News is ridiculous.

To be clear, CO2 interacts with seawater to release hydrogen ions that LOWER the pH of seawater. Because the avg ocean pH is ~8.2, and the projected decrease is such that the ocean will never become acidic, only more neutral. Ocean acidification is a misnomer. The problem is more accurately referred to as ocean neutralization.

I agree the problem is real, but its hopelessly exaggerated by some groups because the chemistry is complicated. Maybe this NOAA post will help a little.

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/08lophelia/logs/sept24/sept24.html

Comments on: Ocean acidification movie in early 2009

By: Miriam Goldstein

By: Peter