Latest news with #PlymouthMarineLaboratory
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Climate Crisis 'Evil Twin' Is Coming for Marine Life
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scientists have warned that the planet crossed the global boundary for ocean acidification around the year 2020, according to a new study. Published in Global Change Biology, the study from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, NOAA and Oregon State University concludes that a key chemical threshold—set to prevent widespread harm to marine life—has already been exceeded. The planetary boundary for ocean acidification is defined as a 20% decline from the pre-industrial aragonite saturation state, a measure of ocean water's ability to support calcifying organisms such as corals and shellfish. March 3 2017, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Australia. A diver swims over bleached staghorn coral, acropora, during the 2017 coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture was taken on Pixie Reef. March 3 2017, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Australia. A diver swims over bleached staghorn coral, acropora, during the 2017 coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture was taken on Pixie Reef. Photo by Brett Monroe Garner / Getty Images "The original boundary was characterized by two criteria: [First] that the polar regions do not reach undersaturation, and [second] that warm-water coral reefs do not fall below the marginal growth threshold," study author Helen Findlay told Newsweek in an email. "We felt that neither of these things could be really assessed using a surface ocean global average figure without considering natural seasonal and regional variability, and so our study made the reassessment based also on regional changes." Underestimating the Pace Using updated models, the study found that the global average surface ocean had entered the boundary's uncertainty zone by 2020. In deeper layers of the ocean, the findings are even more severe. At depths of 200 meters, 60% of the ocean had surpassed the acidification threshold. Previous planetary boundary assessments, including those as recent as 2023, had judged ocean acidification to be nearing its critical limit but not yet beyond it. The new analysis suggests that the original boundary may have underestimated the pace and reach of acidification. It also reveals that the most affected regions include polar waters and the tropical zones that support the bulk of the world's coral reef systems. 'Now is the time' "In our lifetimes (and by year 2100) we are committed to the ocean acidification that has already taken place," Findlay told Newsweek. "We cannot reverse that in the short term. "Even if we were to stop emitting CO2 today, the ocean would remain at this level of ocean acidification for thousands of years." However, Findlay noted that carbon dioxide removal and fewer emissions could speed the process up. "Our models tell us that this is the decade for decisions," she told Newsweek. "For ocean acidification, the emissions pathways diverge around the year 2030, which means that now is the time to make the choice about how we minimize further damage." How Ocean Acidification Happens Ocean acidification occurs when carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves into the ocean, changing the water's chemistry. This process lowers the pH of seawater and reduces the amount of carbonate ions, which are essential building blocks for many marine creatures. Animals like corals, oysters, clams and some types of plankton need carbonate to build their shells and skeletons. As acidification increases, it becomes harder for these organisms to grow and survive. Findlay added that there has been misreporting that "all shellfish will die in the next 5-10 years". "This is not the case," Findlay said. "Organisms are resilient when they are given the chance, but it is the rate of change that is important, and more likely that some local populations will survive and some may not." Wide-Ranging Negative Effects According to the researchers, habitat degradation has already become evident. The study reports that suitable conditions for tropical coral reefs have shrunk by 43%, and for polar pteropods by up to 61%. Coastal regions vital for shellfish like oysters and mussels are also increasingly at risk. Researchers propose redefining the ocean acidification boundary to a 10% decline from the pre-industrial saturation state to better protect marine biodiversity. 'Stick to the Paris Agreement targets' When Newsweek asked about meaningful ways to combat acidification, Findlay explained, "Stop CO2 emissions! Stick to the Paris Agreement targets. Protect and restore ocean habitats and ecosystems. Minimize damage to the seafloor. "Prevent the addition of nutrients and pollution in the coastal regions that can cause local acidification and therefore add to the overall global problem. Fund and support local communities to protect their local environment in a way that has sustainable benefits to them."
Sustainability Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Ocean Acidification Is a Time Bomb': This Silent Threat Is Accelerating Extinction and Pushing Earth Toward an Irreversible Collapse
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 The oceans have surpassed a critical acidification threshold , endangering marine ecosystems and biodiversity. , endangering marine ecosystems and biodiversity. 🐚 Key species like coral reefs and pteropods are severely affected, impacting food chains and coastal economies. and are severely affected, impacting food chains and coastal economies. 🔬 The invisibility of this threat complicates public awareness and political response, despite its profound impacts. 🌍 Urgent action is needed to reduce CO₂ emissions and implement local adaptation measures to mitigate long-term damage. The silent transformation of our oceans is unfolding at a pace that demands urgent attention. According to a recent international study led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, ocean acidification has already crossed a critical threshold, with profound implications for marine ecosystems, coastal economies, and global stability. Although this change is invisible to the naked eye, its effects are far-reaching and devastating. As we explore this peril, it's crucial to understand the stakes involved and the potential paths forward. How will this invisible threat reshape our world, and what can we do to mitigate its impact? Crossing a Critical Threshold: The Alarming Reality In 2020, the global ocean surpassed a vital threshold of acidification far earlier than predicted, yet this did not trigger the expected political alarm. The key indicator for this threshold is aragonite saturation, a mineral essential for forming the shells and skeletons of many marine organisms. When its levels drop by more than 20% from pre-industrial times, marine ecosystems are at risk. Research shows that this biological and chemical barrier has been breached in over half of the waters between the surface and 656 feet deep, areas dense with marine life. Contrary to popular belief, most biodiversity is not concentrated at the surface but within these intermediate waters. Professor Helen Findlay emphasizes that species in these zones are as crucial as the visible corals in shallow waters. The breach of this threshold signifies more than just a scientific measurement; it is a concrete warning. The oceans are no longer effectively buffering CO₂, and water chemistry has already been altered enough to threaten vital functions like calcification and reproduction. This change accelerates biodiversity loss, destabilizes food chains, and makes restoring marine habitats increasingly difficult. This quiet crossing marks a significant shift in the health of our oceans. 'Code Red for Humanity': World Set to Explode Past 1.5°C Heat Limit by 2030, UN Warns of Irreversible Chaos Lost Habitats and Endangered Species The impacts of ocean acidification are no longer theoretical; they are now visibly affecting the most sensitive marine habitats. The study led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory reveals that 43% of tropical and subtropical coral reefs have already lost the chemical conditions necessary for their survival. Although these reefs cover only about 1% of the ocean surface, they host over a quarter of known marine biodiversity. Their rapid decline directly jeopardizes the reproduction, feeding, and protection of thousands of species. Further north, in the cold waters of polar regions, pteropods—tiny planktonic mollusks known as 'sea butterflies'—have lost up to 61% of their viable habitat. Despite their small size, they are a fundamental link in Arctic and Antarctic food webs, serving as prey for species like salmon, cod, and whales. Coastal bivalves, such as oysters and mussels, are also losing ground. Globally, they have experienced a 13% reduction in coastal zones where essential biological functions—growth, calcification, reproduction—can still occur properly. These losses are directly tied to the pH drop caused by the dissolution of CO₂ in seawater, which converts into carbonic acid, making the environment more acidic and reducing the availability of calcium carbonate, vital for shell and skeleton formation. As this availability decreases, marine organisms become more vulnerable, threatening ecosystem balance and coastal economies dependent on them. 'This Kitchen Staple Destroys Ant Colonies Fast': How Table Salt Eliminates Infestations Without a Single Drop of Insecticide The Challenge of Visibility and Response One of the great paradoxes of ocean acidification lies in its invisibility. Unlike an oil spill or coral bleaching, this threat does not present an obvious visual cue. 'There is no clear alarm signal,' notes Steve Widdicombe, Scientific Director at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. On the shoreline, nothing suggests that water pH has dropped critically. This absence of direct perception complicates public and political awareness, despite already measurable impacts. A striking example occurred in the Pacific Northwest around 2010. The oyster industry, well-established in this region, suddenly suffered an unexpected production collapse. Investigations revealed that deep waters, naturally more CO₂-rich, had upwelled to the surface, exacerbated by global acidification. These corrosive waters disrupted the development of oyster larvae, unable to form their shells properly. The response from industry professionals was immediate and technical. Hatcheries installed sensors to monitor the pH of pumped water in real-time, adding alkaline solutions to neutralize the acidity. While this system saved the industry locally, it remains costly and inaccessible to many countries. Jessie Turner, Director of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, emphasizes, 'Adaptation is possible, but it requires resources, monitoring, and committed governance.' 4 Tons of Water, 19 Firefighters: Greece Unleashes Airbus H215 Mega-Helicopters in Massive Aerial Firefighting Revolution Ocean Acidification: A Silent Emergency, A Possible Turning Point Ocean acidification is progressing quietly, but its effects are concrete, documented, and irreversible in the short term. This is not a distant scenario but a reality substantiated by robust data. By crossing the planetary safety threshold in 2020, the oceans have reached a critical point, already affecting food chains, coral reefs, and economic sectors like fishing and aquaculture. Researchers call for a clear response. Reducing global CO₂ emissions is essential to slow the phenomenon sustainably. Additionally, local adaptation measures must develop, such as water chemistry monitoring, protecting resilient habitats, or limiting organic pollution. The challenge remains to integrate this often secondary topic into climate and marine policies. As Jessie Turner warns, the risk lies in government inaction, leaving room for inadequately regulated private initiatives, like certain forms of ocean geoengineering that remain poorly scientifically evaluated. The upcoming UN Ocean Summit in Nice, coinciding with the publication of this crucial data, offers a concrete window for action. By incorporating acidification into international discussions, decision-makers can still influence the trajectory. Could this event mark the beginning of a coordinated response to a long-overlooked crisis? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.7/5 (27)
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Ocean Acidity Has Reached Critical Levels, And We're All Under Threat
Ocean acidity is one of the key markers of Earth's health, because if it tips too far towards acidic then the results can be catastrophic – and a new study suggests the world's waters are now entering this danger zone. A team of scientists from the US and UK looked at what's known as the planetary boundary for ocean acidification, defined as a 20 percent drop in average surface aragonite saturation – that's the calcium carbonate material that many marine organisms use for shells and skeletons. Combining computer models with the latest field measurements, the researchers found that globally, the oceans were either very close to or beyond the boundary. Around 60 percent of deeper waters have gone beyond it, and 40 percent of surface waters. Given the damage already recorded, the team suggests the boundary should actually be set at a 10 percent drop in aragonite saturation – a level the ocean as a whole went past at the turn of the millennium. "Looking across different areas of the world, the polar regions show the biggest changes in ocean acidification at the surface," says biological oceanographer Helen Findlay from Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) in the UK. "Meanwhile, in deeper waters, the largest changes are happening in areas just outside the poles and in the upwelling regions along the west coast of North America and near the equator." While ocean acidification is not something you'll immediately notice as you gaze out across the sea from the shoreline, it has a profound effect. It damages coral reefs, makes waters inhospitable for shell-building creatures, and kills off or weakens other marine life. That then has a knock-on effect on the rest of the ecosystem. This acidification happens when carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean and reacts with water, and so the more greenhouse gases saturate the atmosphere, the more acidic the world's waters are going to become. "Most ocean life doesn't just live at the surface – the waters below are home to many more different types of plants and animals," says Findlay. "Since these deeper waters are changing so much, the impacts of ocean acidification could be far worse than we thought. "This has huge implications for important underwater ecosystems like tropical and even deep-sea coral reefs that provide essential habitats and nursing refuge for many species." Scientists have agreed on eight other planetary boundaries besides ocean acidification, and we've already crossed six of them. Ocean acidification would be the seventh, and shows the dire straits that Earth is now in. The researchers behind this latest study want to see a rapid response to the dangers, with targeted action taken in the areas most vulnerable to acidification – as well as protective measures for those areas that haven't been as badly affected so far. "Ocean acidification isn't just an environmental crisis – it's a ticking time bomb for marine ecosystems and coastal economies," says Steve Widdicombe from PML, who wasn't directly involved in the study. "From the coral reefs that support tourism to the shellfish industries that sustain coastal communities, we're gambling with both biodiversity and billions in economic value every day that action is delayed." The research has been published in Global Change Biology. Emperor Penguins Disappearing Faster Than Worst Estimates, Study Finds World Oceans Day: Scientists Freeze Coral to Save The Great Barrier Reef Volcanic Eruptions Can Create Ice in The Sky, And We Finally Know How
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
'It's a ticking time bomb': Acid levels in Earth's oceans have already breached 'danger zone', study suggests
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Earth's oceans are in worse condition than scientists thought, with acidity levels so high that our seas may have entered a "danger zone" five years ago, according to a new study. Humans are inadvertently making the oceans more acidic by releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) through industrial activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. This ocean acidification damages marine ecosystems and threatens human coastal communities that depend on healthy waters for their livelihoods. Previous research suggested that Earth's oceans were approaching a planetary boundary, or "danger zone," for ocean acidification. Now, in a new study published Monday (June 9) in the journal Global Change Biology, researchers have found that the acidification is even more advanced than previously thought and that our oceans may have entered the danger zone in 2020. The researchers concluded that by 2020, the average condition of our global oceans was in an uncertainty range of the ocean acidification boundary, so the safety limit may have already been breached. Conditions also appear to be worsening faster in deeper waters than at the surface, according to the study. "Ocean acidification isn't just an environmental crisis — it's a ticking time bomb for marine ecosystems and coastal economies," Steve Widdicombe, director of science and deputy chief executive at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, a marine research organization involved in the new study, said in a statement. "As our seas increase in acidity, we're witnessing the loss of critical habitats that countless marine species depend on and this, in turn, has major societal and economic implications." Related: Atlantic ocean currents are weakening — and it could make the climate in some regions unrecognizable In 2009, researchers proposed nine planetary boundaries that we must avoid breaching to keep Earth healthy. These boundaries set limits for large-scale processes that affect the stability and resilience of our planet. For example, there are boundaries for dangerous levels of climate change, chemical pollution and ocean acidification, among others. A 2023 study found that we had crossed six of the nine boundaries. The authors of that study didn't think the ocean acidification boundary had been breached at the time, but they noted it was at the margin of its boundary and worsening. Katherine Richardson, a professor at the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark who led the 2023 study and was not involved in the new study, told Live Science that she was "not at all surprised" by the new findings. "We said it was on the edge in our last assessment and, as atmospheric CO2 concentrations have risen since then, it is hardly surprising that it should be transgressed now," Richardson said in an email. Ocean acidification is mostly caused by the ocean absorbing CO2. The ocean takes up around 30% of CO2 in the atmosphere, so as human activities pump out CO2, they are forcing more of it into the oceans. CO2 dissolves in the ocean, creating carbonic acid and releasing hydrogen ions. Acidity levels are based on the number of hydrogen ions dissolved in water, so as the ocean absorbs more CO2, it becomes more acidic. The hydrogen ions bond with carbonate ions in the ocean to form bicarbonate, which reduces the carbonate available to marine life like corals, clams and plankton. These animals need carbonate for their bones, shells and other natural structures, which they make out of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Researchers measure aragonite — one of the soluble forms of CaCO3 — to track ocean acidity levels. The ocean acidification boundary would be breached when the oceans see a 20% reduction of aragonite compared with preindustrial levels (estimated ocean acidification for 1750 and 1850). The 2023 study estimated that ocean acidification was at 19%, just below the boundary. The authors of the new study used physical and chemical measurements in the upper ocean and computer models to update and refine previous ocean acidification estimates. They also introduced a margin of error, including uncertainties in both the boundary and the present-day acidification value. RELATED STORIES —Record-breaking piles of sargassum seaweed wash up on Caribbean beaches, with more on the way —The Earth's oceans used to be green — and could one day turn purple, scientists say —There's an acidic zone 13,000 feet beneath the ocean surface — and it's getting bigger With the new data, the researchers found that at the ocean's surface, the global average acidification level is 17.3% (with a 5% margin of uncertainty) less than preindustrial levels. That estimate is lower than the 2023 estimate but well within the new study's wider boundary region (20% but with a 5.3% margin of uncertainty). The newly estimated acidification levels increased at greater depths, though the margin for error also increased below 330 feet (100 meters), according to the study's data. Not all of the ocean is acidifying at the same rate. For example, the researchers determined that about 40% of the water at the surface had crossed the boundary, but that estimate rose to 60% for the waters below, down to about 650 feet (200 m). "Most ocean life doesn't just live at the surface — the waters below are home to many more different types of plants and animals," study lead author Helen Findlay, a biological oceanographer at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, said in the statement. "Since these deeper waters are changing so much, the impacts of ocean acidification could be far worse than we thought."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Yikes: We Just Crossed a Planetary Boundary 66 Million Years in the Making
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Planetary boundaries outline how far past pre-industrial conditions Earth can get before anthropogenic activity has detrimental effects on the environment. While we have been dangerously close to the ocean acidity boundary for some time, it is now being breached, and the shells of some organisms are dissolving because of chemical reactions that deprive them of calcium carbonate. The boundary for ocean acidity was originally at 20% post-industrial, but researchers have now moved it back to 10% as a call to action before entire ecosystems start to disappear. When the asteroid that triggered the end-Cretaceous Mass Extinction crashed to Earth (and decimated the dinosaurs), it hit rocks that released sulfur and caused pH levels in the oceans to plummet. Ocean acidity levels became intolerable and led to more than half of all marine life dying out. 66 million years later, it's happening again. This time, there is no asteroid—just us humans. Anthropogenic activity such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels has released enormous amounts of emissions, primarily in the form of carbon dioxide. That CO2 has caused ocean pH levels to fall off a cliff and has lead to a 30% increase in acidity, which underwater habitats ranging from coral reefs to the deep ocean. The planetary boundary for ocean acidification—the limit of what Earth can tolerate before the onset of destructive consequences—is a 20% drop in the concentration of calcium carbonate (a common base often found in things like limestone and seashells) from pre-industrialization levels. It was already looming by 2020, but until recently, we had not breached. Now, however, researchers at the UK's Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) are nervous. In an effort led by biological oceanographer Helen Findlay (who is also Chair off the North East Atlantic Acidification Hub and an Executive Council Member for the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network), experts found that the ocean acidification boundary had already been crossed by as much as 60% of subsurface ocean waters located 200 meters (about 656 feet) below the surface. 'The planetary boundaries assessment defines nine large scale Earth-system processes and associated boundaries that, if crossed, could generate unacceptable environmental change,' Findlay and her team said in a study recently published in the journal Global Change Biology. Creatures that make their own shells through calcification rely on calcium and carbonate molecules already floating around in the ocean. Too much carbon dioxide can throw off this process. When CO2 is absorbed by seawater, it reacts with water molecules to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), which easily breaks apart into hydrogen (H+) ions and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ions. The lonely hydrogen ions lower the pH of water, and the bicarbonate ions bring their own problems. Species that make their own shells need carbonate ions (CO32-) to bond to calcium, but they can't access them if they're already locked up in bicarbonates. So, as the amount of CO2 in the ocean goes up, the number of available carbonate ions gos down, and the organisms end up in a sticky spot. And the problems don't stop there. As rising temperatures heat up the ocean, warmer oceans hold less oxygen. This warmer water is more buoyant and does not mix as well with deeper, colder and more oxygenated water, so the shorter supply is used up faster. More oxygen breathed in than replenished leads to a deficit of oxygen known as hypoxia. Less oxygen means calcifying organisms have to use more energy to build and maintain their shells, the additional exposure to conditions with low oxygen can be even more dangerous for them. Low enough pH levels can cause shells and exoskeletons to actually dissolve, which is what led Findlay to suggest that the boundary of 20% less calcium carbonate (than existed in pre-industrial times) should be reset to 10%. This adjustment should give the ocean life affected a chance to recover and flourish again. And if carbon emissions continue to rise, thing will continue to look bleaker and bleaker for marine life. A separate but alarming NOAA experiment showed that some species of pteropods—tiny mollusks (also known as sea butterflies for the wing-like appendages they use to swim) that produce their own shells—could soon find themselves unable to maintain the shells they need to survive. In the study, researchers placed pteropod shells in water with carbonate levels adjusted to reflect projected carbonate levels for the year 2100. The shells dissolved after only 45 days. And even in today's oceans, pteropod shells off the coast of Antarctica have already been found to be dissolving. It might seem inconsequential for such small creatures to vanish, but the reality is that pteropods—along with other organisms considered zooplankton—form the base of an extensive food web that could suffer immensely if disrupted. Organisms that do not calcify will feel the effects of ocean acidification in other ways. If there is a significant enough change in ocean chemistry, for example, it will become difficult for some species of fish to detect predators. Findlay also found that the polar oceans have experienced the most significant change at the surface level, but the most unnerving shifts in the subsurface have happened in low-latitude and subpolar regions. If deep-water corals are not able to build exoskeletons, entire ecosystems that depend on them for food and shelter could be wiped out. And ecosystem loss could lead to entire populations ending up isolated in smaller areas where they are more vulnerable to dying out. 'The main advancement lies in shifting from an assessment based primarily on the changing chemistry to a more holistic approach that considers uncertainties, regional variations, subsurface impacts and the biological consequences of exceeding the boundary,' she said. There may be no extinction-level asteroid headed for Earth anytime soon, but if carbon emissions continue at the current rate, we could be creating a lethal asteroid effect of our own. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
