Researchers Highlight Growing Problem Of Ocean Acidification
Scientists have made advances in their understanding of the OA problem in recent years, propelling the group of OA researchers to coalesce the knowledge into a document understandable to specialist and non-specialists, alike.
The document is available at www.whoi.edu/OCB-OA/FAQs and in hard copy format at the Oceans in a High CO2 World Meeting, Monterey, CA, Sept. 24 – 27, 2012.
Led by Ocean Carbon Biogeochemistry (OCB) and the UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme, the effort presents a summary of the state of knowledge on OA in FAQ or “frequently asked questions” format. Important for key communicators like journalists, policy specialists, educators, and the like, it explains the findings of recent research initiatives and puts the information in plain-language that can be used to educate or inform policy decision-making. Where possible, the degree of certainty in the knowledge is stated; where necessary, uncertainties are summarized.
“The science of ocean acidification is broad and fast moving, and keeping up with the literature can be a job unto itself. It’s crucial that the public have a clear understanding of this problem, if we are to have a hope of containing it or adapting to it,” said Sarah Cooley, a researcher in the WHOI Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry Department. “Much of the ocean acidification research happening now is funded by tax dollars, and people deserve to know why scientists are doing this work. Informing the public is also a great way to generate discussions of how human communities can make decisions about how to use of the Earth’s resources wisely while still providing opportunities for equitable human development.”
The release of this accumulated knowledge in an understandable format coincides with the Oceans in a High CO2 World in Monterey, CA, where scientists from around the world are gathered to share their research results and develop new research approaches to understanding and dealing with this problem. Communicators at the conference can use the new resource to integrate knowledge gained from scientific sessions.
Illustration by Jack Cook, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The new document builds on FAQs first published in 2010, adding many new questions and updating answers to include new findings. The web version provides a three-level format for most questions with basic, intermediate, and advanced answers. Basic answers provide brief 2-3 sentence summaries of the more detailed intermediate and advanced answers. Intermediate answers target users with some scientific training, but no specialization. Advanced answers provide references to the primary literature.
Ocean waters are becoming less and less welcoming for shelled organisms, says Sarah Cooley, a researcher in the WHOI Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department. Intensive burning of fossil fuels and deforestation over the last two centuries have increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere by almost 40 percent. The oceans absorb about one-third of all human-generated carbon emissions, but the buildup of CO2 in the ocean is pushing surface waters toward more acidic conditions, posing a threat to some marine organisms.
The document is distributed via the Web at www.whoi.edu/OCB-OA/FAQs.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Mass., dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930 on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, its primary mission is to understand the oceans and their interaction with Earth and humanity, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment.
Contacts and sources:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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