Sharks at Risk | Ocean Futures Society

Sharks at Risk | Ocean Futures Society

Deep oceans can mask global warming for decade-long periods

The ocean conveyor belt transports water -- and heat -- around the globe. (Credit: NOAA)

ScienceDaily (2011-09-18) -- The planet's deep oceans at times may absorb enough heat to flatten the rate of global warming for periods of as long as a decade even in the midst of longer-term warming, according to a new analysis.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110918144941.htm

Yesterday, Saturday september the 17th, we followed ( took photographs and video)  the annual event, well organized by Instituto Aqualung, for cleaning up the beaches in Rio de Janeiro. Kids and their parents,families, worked together during several hours helping to remove the small sized garbage that we always find in our beaches, generally hidden under the sand.It was a complete success and had a participation of the local midia and hundreds of people.This event helps to create an awareness process within the youngsters towards  taking actions to protect our fragile beach and shore ecosystems. 

http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/

O desenho mostra como funcionam os principais processos da interface Oceano - Atmosfera
Desenho do WHOI

2010 One of Two Warmest Years On Record

ScienceDaily (June 29, 2011) — Worldwide, 2010 was one of the two warmest years on record, according to the 2010 State of the Climate report, which NOAA has just released. The peer-reviewed report, issued in coordination with the American Meteorological Society, was compiled by 368 scientists from 45 countries. It provides a detailed, yearly update on global climate indicators, notable climate events and other climate information from every continent.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110629204702.htm

Ocean acidification will likely reduce diversity, resiliency in coral reef ecosystems

ScienceDaily (2011-05-29) -- Ocean acidification, along with increased ocean temperatures, will likely severely reduce the diversity and resilience of coral reef ecosystems within this century, new research suggests.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110529184043.htm

A new study from University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science scientists Chris Langdon, Remy Okazaki and Nancy Muehllehner and colleagues from the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Germany concludes that ocean acidification, along with increased ocean temperatures, will likely severely reduce the diversity and resilience of coral reef ecosystems within this century.

The research team studied three natural volcanic CO₂ seeps in Papua New Guinea to better understand how ocean acidification will impact coral reefs ecosystem diversity. The study details the effects of long-term exposure to high levels of carbon dioxide and low pH on Indo-Pacific coral reefs, a condition that is projected to occur by the end of the century as increased human-made CO₂ emissions alter the current pH level of seawater, turning the oceans acidic.

"These 'champagne reefs' are natural analogs of how coral reefs may look in 100 years if ocean acidification conditions continue to get worse," said Langdon, UM Rosenstiel School professor and co-principal investigator of the study.

The study shows shifts in the composition of coral species and reductions in biodiversity and recruitment on the reef as pH declined from 8.1 to 7.8. The team also reports that reef development would cease at a pH below 7.7. The IPCC 4th Assessment Report estimates that by the end of the century, ocean pH will decline from the current level of 8.1 to 7.8, due to rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.

"The seeps are probably the closest we can come to simulating the effect of human-made CO₂ emissions on a coral reef," said Langdon. "They allow us to see the end result of the complex interactions between species under acidic ocean conditions."

The reefs detailed in this study have healthy reefs nearby to supply larvae to replenish the reefs. If pH was low throughout the region -- as projected for year 2100 -- then there would not be any healthy reefs to reseed damaged ones, according to Langdon.

The research was funded by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the University of Miami, and the Max-Planck Institute of Marine Microbiology through the Bioacid Project (03F0608C).