Understanding acidification in coastal ecosystems is no easy task- it is difficult to untangle the consequences of increasing CO
2 in the atmosphere from other changing coastal processes. EOS recently published an editor's
note about a
publication led by SOCAN Committee Member, Janet Reimer, that breaks down the different causes of CO
2 increases in the South Atlantic Bight. We know increasing atmospheric CO
2 is increasing CO
2 in seawater but that's not all. Rising temperatures and the enhanced breakdown of coastal organic matter (such as rotting seaweed) are also contributing to rising CO
2. The sweet smell of coastal muds in the South just took on a whole new meaning! Learn more about how Janet untangled these complicated processes!
Photo credit: Travis Nickey
AND BELOW THE SURFACE...
While most don't associate Georgia with coral reefs, there are extensive areas, such as those in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, that host an abundance of temperate species. Georgia Southern University student, Brianne Varnerin, evaluated the effects of increased carbon dioxide on
Oculina arbuscula (shown right), finding reduced calcification in recruits. This reduction in calcification is expected to depress growth of recruits seasonally in the next 30 years and year-round in the next 50 years. Learn more.
Photo credit: Greg McFall
SOCAN HOSTING WEBINAR ABOUT COMMUNICATING ACIDIFICATION
Join SOCAN's Leslie Wickes and the Ocean Conservancy's Ryan Ono on June 11th at 1pm ET for a SOARCE webinar about communicating coastal acidification. We'll discuss mechanisms for communicating coastal changes that resonate with stakeholders and lessons learned in the U.S. Southeast. Stay tuned
here for more details!
The Ocean Acidification Information Exchange is a new online platform to enhance collaboration among the OA community. Have a question about your OA experiments? Searching for data in your region?
Join the conversation!
SECOORA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Acidification Program are facilitating the operation of the SOCAN to support and encourage discussions on ocean and coastal acidification in the Southeast region.
