A Focus on Ocean Acidification

There's been a wave of articles in the last month. We've been rolling out submissions from our Ocean Acidification Theme.

The most recent posts include "Ocean Acidification, Global Warming’s ‘Evil Twin’" from our former Science Writer Osha Gray Davidson. The article features an interview with Dr. Richard Feely, senior scientist at the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Washington state, who has spent a total of three years at sea, charting how humans are altering the fundamental chemistry of the ocean.

There's also "New Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network Brings Multi-National Approach" from Drs. Jan Newton, Libby Jewett, and Phil Williamson.

A special thanks this Full Moon to Jewett, one of the theme's guest editors along with Dr. Shallin Busch. Both are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Jewett, Busch and others have helped shepherd this theme along, including the publication of an article about how Mook Sea Farm hatchery in Maine has dealt with the effects of low pH water on oyster larvae.

Last but not least, take a look at three abstracts and posters from graduating seniors at St. George’s School in Bogotá, Colombia, who suggest new solutions for water management.

Earthzine promotes the use of Earth observation technology and resources with high schools around the world to facilitate similar student research projects. See our Virtual Poster Session archive for more.

Thanks for reading,

Jeff Kart
Managing Editor
 

Ocean Acidification, Global Warming’s ‘Evil Twin’

When most people hear the phrase “climate change,” they think of the atmosphere, the thin layer of gases surrounding our planet. But the surface of the ocean and the atmosphere are constantly interacting, forming a single system.

New Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network Brings Multi-National Approach

The United Nations General Assembly and many governmental and non-governmental bodies have assisted the scientific community in developing the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON).

A Global Issue Affecting a Maine Oyster Farm

Faced with larval production problems and recognizing these trends, Mook Sea Farm developed a suite of management/mitigation strategies to control the carbonate conditions in the larval cultures. These strategies have successfully restored normal larval production.

Pacific Walrus and Coastal Alaska Native Subsistence Hunting: Considering Vulnerabilities from Ocean Acidification

Alaska Native hunting and fishing communities face cumulative pressures from ocean changes. Sea ice is diminishing and becoming increasingly unpredictable, fisheries are declining, and culturally important species such as the Pacific walrus are under threat. These changes upset travel routes and subsistence strategies of hunters, make the seas less safe, impact animal migrations, and undermine food security.

Probing Human Vulnerability to Ocean Acidification Uncovers Mitigation and Adaptation Opportunities

Census areas and boroughs in southeastern and southwestern Alaska are at greater risk than other areas in the state. This overall risk comes from the regions’ high number of rural communities that get both commercial harvesting income and subsistence-based nutrition from shellfish harvests, yet do not have many alternatives for other jobs or foods.

Altered Waters: Ocean Acidification Leads Shellfish Growers to Adapt for Survival

In addition to oyster larvae, ocean acidification also impacts the food of our food, like the small swimming snails or pteropods, which are a dietary staple of pink salmon and other fish, mammals, and birds in high latitude regions. This means there is potential for myriad problems throughout the food chain.