Oceans rapidly turning acidic: new UN study | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Oceans rapidly turning acidic: new UN study

Hindustan Times | BySamar Halarnkar and Chetan Chauhan, Copenhagen
Dec 14, 2009 12:24 PM IST

As deadlocked climate talks in Copenhagen prepared to enter a critical, fractious second week, a major new United Nations’ study showed how quickly the world could be running out of time.

As deadlocked climate talks in Copenhagen prepared to enter a critical, fractious second week, a major new United Nations’ study showed how quickly the world could be running out of time.

HT Image
HT Image

The world’s biggest insurance policy against rapid warming, the oceans, are soaking up atmospheric carbon dioxide at such a rate that their acidity — and so their ability to nuture an intricate planet-wide web of life — could increase 150 per cent by 2050.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

This dramatic increase is 100 times more than at any time in the last 20 million years could cause “irreversible damage”, and highlists the direct link between climate change and the health of the oceans, said the study, released on Monday by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

“Ocean acidification is irreversible on timescales of at least tens of thousands of years, and substantial damage to ocean ecosystems can only be avoided by urgent and rapid reductions in global emissions of CO2,” said Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention.

Djoghlaf said this was a “critical issue” that now needed to be included in the climate-change debate. That may not be easy with rich and poor countries failing to agree even on the language of a possible joint statement at the end of the week, much less key points like cutting emissions and allocating money.

Seas and oceans absorb about one quarter of the carbon dioxide spewed into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other human activities. Without this absorption, the global-warming crisis would be greater than it is now.

“This CBD study provides a valuable synthesis of scientific information on the impacts of ocean acidification, based on the analysis of more than 300 scientific literatures, and it describes an alarming picture of possible ecological scenarios and adverse impacts of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity,” Djoghlaf said.

The study predicts direct impacts on commercial fishing. A more acidic ocean could mean than by century’s end some 70 per cent of cold-water corals, a key refuge and feeding ground for species that fishermen catch will be exposed to these corrosive waters.

Given current emission rates—global emissions are up 30 per cent since the Kyoto Protocol was signed 12 years ago—the effects will begin much sooner. The Arctic Ocean will lose essential minerals by 2032 and the southern seas by 2050. That means a disruption of food sources to many marine species, particularly to mussels, oysters, shrimp, crab and lobsters, which need calcium to grow.

Scientists say some species might benefit from such changes to the ocean, but overall the effects are likely to be negative, with attendant effects that could range from livlihoods of coastal communities to planetary regulation of carbon dioxide.

“This publication...confirms again how great the stakes of sustainability are in the climate-change negotiations,” said Thomas E Lovejoy, Biodiversity Chair of Washington DC’s Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, in the preface to the publication, officially titled Scientific Synthesis of the Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Marine Biological Diversity.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On