Feed: Slashdot
Feed Link: https://slashdot.org/
---

Title: Sea Acidity Has Reached Critical Levels, Threatening Entire Ecosystem

Link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/06/09/1...

The world's oceans are in worse health than realised, scientists have said
today, as they warn that a key measurement shows we are "running out of time"
to protect marine ecosystems. From a report: Ocean acidification, often
called the "evil twin" of the climate crisis, is caused when carbon dioxide
is rapidly absorbed by the ocean, where it reacts with water molecules
leading to a fall in the pH level of the seawater. It damages coral reefs and
other ocean habitats and, in extreme cases, can dissolve the shells of marine
creatures. Until now, ocean acidification had not been deemed to have crossed
its "planetary boundary." The planetary boundaries are the natural limits of
key global systems -- such as climate, water and wildlife diversity -- beyond
which their ability to maintain a healthy planet is in danger of failing. Six
of the nine had been crossed already, scientists said last year. However, a
new study by the UK's Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), the Washington-based
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Oregon State University's
Co-operative Institute for Marine Resources Studies found that ocean
acidification's "boundary" was also reached about five years ago.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

---
VRSS v2.1.180528