CoastWatcher

Elizabeth Kolbert writes in The New Yorker (November 20, 2006) that devastating impacts related to global warming may cause dramatic changes in the world’s oceans by 2050.

While we know that carbon emissions have warmed our atmosphere to temperatures higher than any time over the last 650,000 years, Kolbert’s latest report shows the effects of global warming on our oceans may be even more threatening.
In ‘A Darkening Sea” Kolbert explains that oceans have always absorbed carbon dioxide, but that since industrial times our startling incease in carbon emissions is overwhelming the oceans’ ability to absorb it, causing what is called ‘ocean acidification.’ Ocean acidification, or declining pH leves of seawater make it much more difficult for shelled marine organisms to survive, to continue to build shells, and for coral reefs to survive. As reported by Kolbert, recent research suggests that oceanic food chains may collapse as early as 2050.

This year alone the oceans will absorb some 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Everyday every American adds 40 lbs. of CO2 to our oceans. It will take tens of thousands of years to return the ocean’s pH levels to pre-industrial, even if we were to stop all carbon emissions today.

Take the time to read Kolbert’s report.