How does climate change influence ocean acidification and coastlines? This is what a recent study published in Nature Communications hopes to address as a team of scientists investigated the rate of ocean acidification resulting from human-caused (anthropogenic) climate change. This study has the potential to help researchers, climate scientists, legislators, and the public better understand the ramifications of climate change and the steps that can be taken to mitigate them.
For the study, the researchers used a combination of modeling and fieldwork to examine how ocean acidification is impacting the California Current System (CCS) and adjacent Salish Sea. The goal of the study was to ascertain how much ocean acidification has increased during the industrial era, specifically by anthropogenic carbon dioxide. In the end, the researchers found that not only has the CCS and Salish Sea experienced enhanced acidification due to coastal upwelling, which is when nutrients are transported from the deep ocean to the surface. Additionally, the team also predicts this could get worse in the future.
“Predicting how upwelling systems will respond to climate change is highly complex, as anthropogenic influences interact with natural sources of ocean acidification,” said Dr. Hana Jurikova, who is a senior research fellow at the University of St. Andrews and a co-author on the study. “Our research shows that such interactions can amplify environmental change in the California Current System, highlighting the need for similar studies in other regions to better anticipate future change.”
This study comes as climate change continues to increase ocean temperatures, resulting in increased acidification. Therefore, studies like this demonstrate how severe climate change is impacting ocean acidification, which could help bring about meaningful change to how we handle climate change.
How will climate change contribute to ocean acidification in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: Nature Communications, EurekAlert!
Featured Image Credit: UNiversity of St. Andrews