February 07, 2005
2/7 - You Bet Your Acid: Some people are starting to get VERY worried about acid oceans
The idea first surfaced about a year and a half ago. Now, at a recent conference in the U.K., the tone has shifted to one of urgency. As if coral reefs aren't facing enough trauma with global warming, this is a second, entirely different threat which some scientists think will wipe out all coral reefs IN 35 YEARS.
Acid Oceans: isn't it ionic?
"Your grandchildren are unlikely to be able to dive on a [living] coral reef," she told delegates.
Will we be able to dive at all? I guess this will be good for my scuba gear--I won't need the acid bath to clean off the calcium deposits on my regulator.
Since people don't "get it" (eg Time's lack of coverage, SB blog 2/17/05), let's try a different approach--what's going to happen to all of the man-made resources we have in the oceans? Trans-oceanic cables, submarines, etc? Will the acidic oceans increase our taxes & other expenses to fix & rebuild the man-made stuff in the ocean?