Comments on: The oceans on acid http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/ Exploring Science and the Environment Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:39:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tropical Fish Hobbyist http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1619 Tropical Fish Hobbyist Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:04:31 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1619 Exellent Post. Exellent Post.

]]> By: edkus http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1548 edkus Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:39:56 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1548 I haven’t read the full report yet but the acidification of the oceans stands to reason. I am a practising medical practioner and acid-base balance is a very important part of the homeostasis of the organism, and small alterations of this have some profound effects. Equally tropical fish tank hobbyists go to great lengths to preserve the correct pH, O2 concentrations etc. The more you look at how the planet works, the more you have to agree with James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis. I haven’t read the full report yet but the acidification of the oceans stands to reason. I am a practising medical practioner and acid-base balance is a very important part of the homeostasis of the organism, and small alterations of this have some profound effects. Equally tropical fish tank hobbyists go to great lengths to preserve the correct pH, O2 concentrations etc. The more you look at how the planet works, the more you have to agree with James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis.

]]> By: Dan Kulpinski http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1527 Dan Kulpinski Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:18:05 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1527 Dr. Manns, how can you say what these scientists have observed is not correct? Dr. Feely and team went out and took water samples all along the West Coast and found that some of the water on the continental shelf is now slightly more acidic. Please read their report here: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/320/5882/1490 ScienceNOW had an interesting piece on the topic of ocean acidification recently as well. "A Volcanic Preview of Acidic Oceans" describes a study done near Ischia, a small island off of the southwest coast of Italy. Volcanic vents in the ocean near Ischia release 2 million liters of CO2 per day, making the waters a preview of acidic conditions expected in more parts of the ocean by 2100. The researchers found that a certain type of algae severel diminished in the acidic waters, and corals and sea urchins were non-existent. There were 30 percent fewer species in the acidic waters. See this link for the story, http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/609/2?etoc Dr. Manns, how can you say what these scientists have observed is not correct? Dr. Feely and team went out and took water samples all along the West Coast and found that some of the water on the continental shelf is now slightly more acidic. Please read their report here: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/320/5882/1490

ScienceNOW had an interesting piece on the topic of ocean acidification recently as well. “A Volcanic Preview of Acidic Oceans” describes a study done near Ischia, a small island off of the southwest coast of Italy. Volcanic vents in the ocean near Ischia release 2 million liters of CO2 per day, making the waters a preview of acidic conditions expected in more parts of the ocean by 2100.

The researchers found that a certain type of algae severel diminished in the acidic waters, and corals and sea urchins were non-existent. There were 30 percent fewer species in the acidic waters. See this link for the story, http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/609/2?etoc

]]> By: Dr. Francis T. Manns http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1364 Dr. Francis T. Manns Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:09:48 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1364 the Oceans are not on acid. The oceans are undeniably bacic and their pH is not challenged by CO2. The scientific base line is far too small for the alarmism of the media. The west coast upwelling is a natural phenomenon that has been occurring for eons and is not 'corrosive'. That's not correct. As Neptune (above) clearly states. CO2 dissolves better in cold water and bubbles out of warm water. Shake your warm Dr. Pepper if you want experimental proof. the Oceans are not on acid. The oceans are undeniably bacic and their pH is not challenged by CO2. The scientific base line is far too small for the alarmism of the media. The west coast upwelling is a natural phenomenon that has been occurring for eons and is not ‘corrosive’. That’s not correct.

As Neptune (above) clearly states. CO2 dissolves better in cold water and bubbles out of warm water. Shake your warm Dr. Pepper if you want experimental proof.

]]> By: Dagny McKinley http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1363 Dagny McKinley Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:06:48 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1363 I think it's clear how little we know about the systems of the earth and how they cope. I feel as if the more we know the more we know we do not know. Every tapestry of life, every insect, body of water, bird is interconnected in ways we can only guess at. Dagny McKinley www.onnotextiles.com organic apparel I think it’s clear how little we know about the systems of the earth and how they cope. I feel as if the more we know the more we know we do not know. Every tapestry of life, every insect, body of water, bird is interconnected in ways we can only guess at.

Dagny McKinley
http://www.onnotextiles.com
organic apparel

]]> By: Angela Alston http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1344 Angela Alston Sat, 31 May 2008 01:40:04 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1344 That's a great title. This such a horrifying problem I'm grateful for humor whenever it pops up. I'm doing outreach for a documentary on ocean acidification, A Sea Change. So I get to think about it a lot. :} That’s a great title.

This such a horrifying problem I’m grateful for humor whenever
it pops up.

I’m doing outreach for a documentary on ocean acidification,
A Sea Change. So I get to think about it a lot. :}

]]> By: Art Esian http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1343 Art Esian Sat, 31 May 2008 00:36:31 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/dankulpinski/2008/05/30/the-oceans-on-acid/#comment-1343 The report on my imminent death is premature. I have been sloshing around in the basins on the crust for more than four billion years. I now cover nearly 71 per cent of the planet. Since the last ice age I have lifted myself out of the basin by 120 metres and scared the tribes of Noah to the higher ground. During deep time I became the universal solvent for the volcanoes and the clouds. I have taken up as much salt as required by local circumstances and sometimes give it back in hot shallows and desert areas of my world. I have given man the salt in his blood. Your CO2 output is infinitesimally small. I have absorbed as much gas as I need to maintain balance with the organic world within me and on land. The exchange is so peaceful that science calls it equilibrium. I can absorb more CO2, if the plants do not need it, and it does not give me acid imbalance. My pH will remain basic no matter what you say. These variations you measure have come and gone many uncountable times on the planet and your baseline is too small to know the truth. What you do not get is that warming of the oceans releases CO2 and other gasses from my water, while cooling my water allows me to take up CO2 in vast amounts to nestle with the other molecules in my coldest most remote realms. I can absorb all that man can produce because your impact is feeble compared to my capacity. Please watch me with humility for you cannot change me. I am the ongoing sink for the planet, and I am huge and my heat content is beyond your estimation. Measure me here and there with your microscopes but know that I will never be that way in that place again. Open your mind to the infinite cycles of chemistry and physics and kneel on my beach. You can only hurt me by not respecting my infinite ability to change chemistry and temperature in all the corners of the seas. My CO2 feeds your plants and your plants provide all the oxygen you breathe. Your base line is infinitesimally small yet your mouth is wide open. Neptune.. The report on my imminent death is premature. I have been sloshing around in the basins on the crust for more than four billion years. I now cover nearly 71 per cent of the planet. Since the last ice age I have lifted myself out of the basin by 120 metres and scared the tribes of Noah to the higher ground. During deep time I became the universal solvent for the volcanoes and the clouds. I have taken up as much salt as required by local circumstances and sometimes give it back in hot shallows and desert areas of my world. I have given man the salt in his blood. Your CO2 output is infinitesimally small. I have absorbed as much gas as I need to maintain balance with the organic world within me and on land. The exchange is so peaceful that science calls it equilibrium. I can absorb more CO2, if the plants do not need it, and it does not give me acid imbalance. My pH will remain basic no matter what you say. These variations you measure have come and gone many uncountable times on the planet and your baseline is too small to know the truth. What you do not get is that warming of the oceans releases CO2 and other gasses from my water, while cooling my water allows me to take up CO2 in vast amounts to nestle with the other molecules in my coldest most remote realms. I can absorb all that man can produce because your impact is feeble compared to my capacity.
Please watch me with humility for you cannot change me. I am the ongoing sink for the planet, and I am huge and my heat content is beyond your estimation. Measure me here and there with your microscopes but know that I will never be that way in that place again. Open your mind to the infinite cycles of chemistry and physics and kneel on my beach. You can only hurt me by not respecting my infinite ability to change chemistry and temperature in all the corners of the seas. My CO2 feeds your plants and your plants provide all the oxygen you breathe. Your base line is infinitesimally small yet your mouth is wide open.

Neptune..

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