Ocean Acidification in the Caribbean Detailed
Study Reveals Dramatic Changes in Potential Caribbean Coral Growth
Nov 22, 2008
Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science have discovered significant natural variations in the ocean chemistry of the Caribbean that have implications for their future response to ocean acidification. The study, "Ocean Acidification of the Greater Caribbean Region 1996–2006", written by Rik Wanninkhof et al, was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans on October 31, 2008.
Ocean Acidification
Human industrial activity over the last 200 years has changed the composition of the global atmosphere through our use of fossil fuels and reduced forest vegetation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have increased to levels not seen for 650,000 years. Oceans act as a natural sink or reservoir for excess CO2 production and they absorb about a third of this greenhouse gas generated every year. This process is causing the oceans to become more acidic, which has repercussions on marine wildlife like crabs, oysters, and coral that use calcium to build their shells or skeletons.
Caribbean Ocean Chemistry Study
Scientists used data collected for four years by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's cruise ship Explorer of the Seas, combined with satellite observations to estimate changes occurring to ocean chemistry of the Caribbean and develop online tools to visually track ocean acidification.
In announcing this study, NOAA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Tim Keeney says, "Ocean acidification has become an important issue to coral reef managers and researchers. These new tools provide these communities with better information to guide future research. This is the first time that anyone has been able to track ocean acidification on a monthly basis."
NOAA Coral Reef Watch Experimental Ocean Acidification Product Suite (OAPS)
One of the products developed through this study is an online tool that allows the viewing and tracking of ocean acidification in the Greater Caribbean Region. It is part of a greater scientific effort sponsored by NOAA called Coral Reef Watch. This tool uses satellite and modeled environmental datasets to estimate carbonate chemistry on the ocean's surface. An additional feature is that the modeling for the Caribbean can be viewed with Google Earth.
This study points out the seasonal variability in ocean chemistry found in waters of the Greater Caribbean Region. It finds the chemistry is now currently able to support growth of coral reefs. Ocean acidification could have a critical impact on the growth of coral here in the future if there isn't some significant effort to reduce global wide carbon dioxide emissions.
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