EDFish

Climate Change Threatens Chemical Composition of the Oceans

Rod FujitaThe recent U.N. Climate Change conference in Copenhagen highlighted the range of challenges associated with fighting climate change, from cutting energy use to financing clean technology in developing countries.  Why the global sense of urgency and focus?  Because the impacts of climate change are already being felt.  Most of our discussions center on the dangers of sea level rise, which is already inundating low-lying islands and valuable wetlands; on changes in precipitation and air temperature, which will affect everything from agriculture to asthma; and on the shift in seasons and habitat that will make life difficult for trees, butterflies, and the other wildlife we are familiar with.

Enormous threats indeed.  And it is perhaps inevitable that we are focused on the land and our fellow terrestrial inhabitants.  But let us not forget the fact that we are changing the ocean profoundly in many ways.  A recent study suggests that over a third of the entire ocean is heavily impacted by human activities, and that there is no longer a single patch of seawater anywhere that can be said to be pristine.  And incredibly, we are not just affecting patches of the ocean here or there – we are changing the very chemistry of the seas, chemistry that has remained stable for millennia and which defines the parameters for life in the sea and also for the habitability of the planet for us.

All living systems are buffered from extreme change by their chemistry.  If not for the carbonate/bicarbonate and other buffering chemicals in our blood, the pH (a measure of acidity) would fluctuate wildly and none of the myriad proteins or enzymes essential for life would function.  Because pH is a logarithmic scale, very small changes in pH can be disastrous for life – for example, a change of less than one pH unit is lethal to humans. Oceans along coast

The ocean is a gigantic living system, and is perhaps one of the best-buffered systems on the planet.  Enormous quantities of buffering chemicals have been entering the ocean each year for billions of years.  Remarkably, though, even the ocean is not impervious to the impacts of fossil fuel combustion and carbon dioxide emissions. 

As atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have risen, the ocean has steadfastly taken up about 2 billion tons of it every year, protecting us from an even more serious climate crisis than we have already.  However, carbon dioxide reacts with seawater to create carbonic acid.  As a result, while the pH of the ocean varies widely in response to local conditions, scientists have detected a noticeable drop in pH (an increase in average acidity) over the last 20 years and project a decrease in pH by 0.3-0.4 units – a huge change –  by 2100 if nothing is done to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 

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The Health of Our Oceans and International Collaboration Go Hand in Hand

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By: Kristin Kleisner, Marie Hubatova, and Karly Kelso

Recent geopolitical shifts and trade tensions have rocked the international community, and our vast oceans, far from being immune, are often on the front lines.   Read More »

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Our Ocean, Our Action: See You in Busan!

The 10th annual Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in Busan, South Korea is happening this week, and we are glad to join the conversation on several topics relevant to our work. This year, the conference is set to discuss “digital oceans,” taking a look at the use of technology in ocean spaces as a tool for supporting sustainability.  

Here is a look at some highlights from EDF’s engagement at this year’s conference.  Read More »

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Seaweed Farming: Fresh Green Hope for the Philippines’ Blue Economy

Seaweed

By: Ben Fasciano

The Philippines’ Cabalian Bay is beautiful on a calm evening in October, its still waters fringed with mountains and mangroves. The wealth of natural resources in this region contributes significantly to local livelihoods, food security, and economic development. Yet, these natural resources are under threat. Natural disasters, including mudslides, typhoons, and floods, have caused devastating losses of life and livelihoods in the past 20 years.   Read More »

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How Fishers Are Protecting Their Communities from Hurricanes

Men on a boat

Credit: Mark Schrope

By: Aubrey Taylor

Tropical Storm Oscar crept up from the North Atlantic Ocean at a leisurely 40 miles per hour on the morning of Oct. 19, 2024 and ambled toward the Turks and Caicos Islands. Based on the data available, meteorologists believed the tiny storm was unlikely to cause major damage. Yet only three hours later, Oscar’s wind speeds had somehow doubled to a destructive 80 miles per hour—and the tropical storm was now, undeniably, a Category 1 Hurricane.  Read More »

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Guiding The Bahamas to a Brighter Future

Bahamas Water

Photo credit: Harrison Hughes

By Ann M. Albury, Sepp Haukebo, and Carlito Turner

The cerulean blue waters of The Bahamas are world renowned for their expansive saltwater fishing flats. These flats—shallow, sand or seagrass covered nearshore areas—are the ideal habitat for stalking prized fly fishing species, including bonefish, tarpon, permit, cobia, and snook. 

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