The Oceans are Dying

VMarcHart · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

Cid, needless to say, you're reading material is awesome. Thanks for the homework.

When do you think something unquestionable will happen, ie, all tuna have died, or 'do not swim' sings on all beaches?

Thanks!

kiwichick · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

a recent radio interview on the abc with a scientist suggested they were working on using lime to reduce ocean acidification (sorry don't have alink or any other info)

struck a chord as its what we do on the farm (maginally different scale of course!!)

possible temp solution???

also (sorry if its already been trashed ) but how about adding salt to the gulfstream to counteracte the melting ice??

joewp · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

Kiwichick, the idea of "seeding" the ocean has been broached before, as was salting the Gulfstream. I think the Eric Severeid's law would apply here in both cases - "The chief cause of problems is solutions".

What we (mankind) need to do is live with nature and the consequences of our actions, rather than trying to "fix" the results. Our meddling in natural processes is what caused the problems in the first place. That we could "fix" the current problems by even more meddling is irrational. About the only thing we could do now is just stop messing with the oceans.
_________________
Joe P. United Political Debate
"Only when the last tree is cut; only when the last river is polluted; only when the last fish is caught; only then will they realize that you cannot eat money." - Cree Indian Proverb

VMarcHart · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:58 am Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

Ocean Dead Zones 1

Ocean Dead Zones 2

Cid_Yama · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:59 am Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

Rising ocean acidity slows marine fertilisation

Rising acidification of the ocean could reduce fertilisation of marine invertebrates and might eventually wipe out colonies of sea urchins, lobsters, mussels and oysters, according to a study.

Scientists knew that ocean acidification was eating away at the shells of marine animals, but the new study has found that rising acidity hindered marine sperm from swimming to and fertilising eggs in the ocean.

"We were completely surprised because people had been looking at the effect of acidification on calcified structures of marine animals, but there was no evidence to suggest it was affecting non-calcified structures, like a sperm or an egg," she said.

The study of sea urchins around southeast Australia found a link between increased ocean acidity and a reduction in swimming speed and motility of sea urchin sperm.

The researchers measured sperm swimming speed, sperm motility, fertilisation success and larval developmental success in sea urchins in normal seawater with a pH 8.1 and also in water with a pH 7.7.

The experiment found that in water with acidity at 7.7, the sperm swam much more slowly and began failing to meet the eggs.

Fertilisation fell by 25 per cent and in almost 26 per cent of cases where eggs were fertilised, they did not survive to develop into larvae, said the study published in Current Biology.

"It is widely believed that seawater is chemically well-buffered, but these results show that the acidification process already well under way may threaten the viability of many marine species," Prof. Williamson said.

She said acidity levels of 7.7 were already occurring in patches of ocean off the west coast of the US.

"What we have now is evidence that the world's marine life is far more sensitive to ocean acidification than first suspected, and that means our oceans may be very different places in the not-too-distant future," Prof. Williamson said.

link
_________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell

It riles them to believe that you perceive the webs they weave. - Moody Blues

Cid_Yama · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:41 am Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

"Because it is difficult to detect, unlike mass coral bleaching, we don't know whether we have reached or surpassed the critical thresholds for any coral species, such as we have for temperature thresholds," Salm said.

Not only is ocean acidification hard to detect, he warned, ocean acidification is potentially irreversible.

In July, scientists at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Florida declared acidification as the largest and most significant threat that oceans face today. Current estimates show that all coral reefs could be gone by the end of the century or, in the worst case scenario, possibly decades sooner, Salm pointed out.

"Coral reefs are the lifeblood of our oceans and we depend on them for survival," said Suzanne Case, executive director of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. "Without urgent action to limit carbon dioxide emissions and improve management of marine protected areas, even vast treasured reefs like the Great Barrier Reef and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands will become wastelands of dead coral."
link
_________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell

It riles them to believe that you perceive the webs they weave. - Moody Blues

mos6507 · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

arkwriter · Coal Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 3

the chain of life has been broken, nay smashed, by the relentless expansion of the human population and our dependance on plastic.
The mind boggles as to how we managed to get into such dire straits, or of how we can possibly change things for the better. It is also strange to read messages from those who ridicule, or are so ignorant, of global warming, but I suppose that, when we are all utterly doomed, it is probably the best to remain ignorant and enjoy life whilst one can.

Cid_Yama · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

‘Desertification’ of the East China Sea

The East China Sea is one of the largest “ocean deserts” in the world. Marine lives cannot exist there for lack of oxygen. When the oxygen level in sea water decreases to three milligrams per liter, most stocks of fish and shellfish will either leave or die of suffocation.

According to www.caijing.net.cn, China’s Finance and Economics website, as early as October 2006, a United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) Report placed the estuaries of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River on the list of additional “ocean deserts.”

In 2005, the then China General Administration for Environmental Protection started an analysis on the Yangtze River estuary and adjacent waters and land areas. Included were eight river cities in Jiangsu Province, six coastal cities in Zhejiang Province, Shanghai, and waters off the Yangtze estuary and the Hangzhou Bay. In all, the study covered a land area of 41,440 square miles and a water area of 15,200 square miles.

The samples collected from the sea floors revealed that one third of the explored water area had no meiofauna, or small invertebrates that live at the sea bottom, indicating a serious “desertification” of the ocean floors.
link
_________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell

It riles them to believe that you perceive the webs they weave. - Moody Blues

doodlebug2 · Tar Sands Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 52

Besides dying , how about full of crap.
After a storm this past week blew through here (Coastal VA)
the beach was littered with plastic crap. Bottles, cans, bags, cig filters, wrapers, you name it. Tons of it. Just think of this stuff in the worlds oceans, it is sad and shameful. Plus, humans will be long gone and it will still be floating around. yuck

Cid_Yama · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

Seas turn to acid as they soak up CO2

The Bay of Naples is renowned for its breathtaking beauty and glittering clear waters. For centuries, tourists have flocked to the region to experience its glories.

But beneath the waves, scientists have uncovered an alarming secret. They have found streams of gas bubbling up from the seabed around the island of Ischia. 'The waters are like a Jacuzzi - there is so much carbon dioxide fizzing up from the seabed,' said Dr Jason Hall-Spencer, of Plymouth University. 'Millions of litres of gas bubble up every day.'

The gas streams have turned Ischia's waters into acid, and this has had a major impact on sea life and aquatic plants. Now marine biologists fear that the world's seas could follow suit.
link
_________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell

It riles them to believe that you perceive the webs they weave. - Moody Blues

Cid_Yama · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: The Oceans are Dying

Ocean seeding making waves

The topic of "ocean seeding" has been making waves among delegates.

Could "polluting" the marine environment restrain rising temperatures and rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere?

According to Margaret Leinen, chief scientist of the company Climos, it could; and the magic pollutant is iron filings.

Placed in the oceans, the theory goes that they will stimulate the growth of phytoplankton, tiny marine plants, which will then photosynthesise more CO2 out of the atmosphere and down into the water column.

The idea has been around for a long time and studies date back at least a decade, without having given us a definitive answer to whether it will work.

At a seminar here on ocean geoengineering, as the approach is known, Ms Leinen told us of her company's plans to seed trial sites of ocean hundreds of kilometres across, and - under the auspices of independent scientists - conduct studies that would satisfy academics, regulators and investors.

Scientifically, the issue is not whether the mechanism works - it does - but what else happens afterwards.

How deep will the carbon be carried, through physical or biological paths? How long will it stay stored? Will the plants' decay produce methane or nitrous oxide, more potent greenhouse gases than CO2?

Investors will want to know simply whether it can turn a profit - which hangs on whether it is shown to work, and so whether it qualifies for carbon credits.

Greenpeace scientist David Santillo expressed the concerns of many.

When money is involved, how can we guarantee independent science?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7654721.stm

My main concern is that it will add to ocean acidification and anoxia. This could just as easily kill the oceans and I'm not seeing anywhere where this issue is even being considered.
_________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell

It riles them to believe that you perceive the webs they weave. - Moody Blues