ucresearch:What does upwelling have to do with oyster deaths? Our ocean is a natural carbon dioxide
ucresearch:What does upwelling have to do with oyster deaths? Our ocean is a natural carbon dioxide absorber, but with increasing pollution, one if its natural mechanisms can become self-harming.During upwelling season, wind creates tide and wave patterns that transport water from the bottom of the ocean —that naturally has higher concentration of CO2— up to the surface. Think of it like the ocean’s natural conveyor belt that makes the water at the surface more acidic certain times of the year.The ecological effects of upwelling can be positive, but it has also been a factor in the increase in oyster mortality. Oysters along the California coast have evolved to be very tolerant of the low pH that occurs naturally from upwelling. But researchers have found that with human-induced ocean acidification, shell-making organisms are no longer able to sustain the shells they need to survive.Historically, pH level of the seawater has been fairly neutral, with varying amounts of CO2 existing naturally at different depths of the ocean. But scientists have observed an overall decrease in the average pH level of the water over time since the Industrial Revolution, meaning the ocean has become more acidic and corrosive due to human activities. And this change in the chemical makeup of seawater has been dubbed “ocean acidification.”To learn how else ocean acidification is impacting marine life, watch the most recent episode of What Oysters Reveal About Sea Change with UC Davis’ Tessa Hill to find out. -- source link
#ocean chat#upwelling#ocean acidification