Ocean acidification in the California Current

Stephen SoliminePhysical

Oceanography

The California Current system

- Stretches along the entire west coast of the United States and down the Baja Peninsula

Marine life in the California Current

- Biodiversity

- Extensive food web

- Important for the fishing industry

Dore, John E., et al. 2009

CO2 on the rise

CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 → H+

Carbon Dioxide will react with water to form Carbonic Acid which will quickly release a hydrogen ion

The more hydrogen ions present in the water, the lower the pH will be

Progression of ocean acidification

Gruber, Nicolas, et al. 2012

Ekman pumping along the California Current

American Meteorological Society

Upwelling brings corrosive water into the California Current

Freely, Richard A., et al. 2008

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

ReferencesGruber, 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.