Ocean acidification in the California Current

1
Ocean acidification in the California Current

Stephen Solimine Physical Oceanography
2
The California Current system
- Stretches along the entire west coast
of the United States and down
the Baja Peninsula
3
Marine life in the California Current
- Biodiversity - Extensive food web - Important
for the fishing industry
4
CO2 on the rise
Dore, John E., et al. 2009
5
Carbon Dioxide will react with water to form
Carbonic Acid which will quickly release a
hydrogen ion
CO2 H2O ? H2CO3 ? H
The more hydrogen ions present in the water, the
lower the pH will be
6
Progression of ocean acidification

Gruber, Nicolas, et al. 2012
7
Ekman pumping along the California Current
American Meteorological Society
8
Upwelling brings corrosive water into the
California Current
Freely, Richard A., et al. 2008

9
Conclusion
- Increasing atmospheric CO2 will continue to
be absorbed the the worlds oceans - Adverse
effects on marine life - Possibly devastating to
fishing industry - Disruption of the food chain
10
References
Gruber, Nicolas, et al. "Rapid progression of
ocean acidification in the California Current
System." science 337.6091 (2012)
220-223. Dore, John E., et al. "Physical and
biogeochemical modulation of ocean
acidification in the central North Pacific."
Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences 106.30 (2009) 12235-12240. Feely,
Richard A., et al. "Evidence for upwelling of
corrosive" acidified" water onto the continental
shelf." science 320.5882 (2008) 1490-1492.