#ocean acidification

From the article:

Citizen scientists have discovered what they believe is one of the largest coral colonies ever documented on the Great Barrier Reef. The coral spans approximately 111 metres in maximum length and covers an estimated area of 3,973 sq m – about half the size of a soccer field. The Pavona clavus coral was first found by Jan Pope in waters a few hours offshore from Cairns. It was identified as part of the Great Reef Census, a citizen science project run by Citizens of the Reef. Pope, who has been diving on the Great Barrier Reef for 35 years, described it as “a very surreal underwater landscape. It looks like a rolling meadow.”

The goal of the Great Reef Census is to find "hotspots of resilience"--places where reefs are doing better than average so that larvae from those locations can be used to repopulate harder hit regions of the Great Barrier Reef.

Excerpt from this story from Grist:

Global temperature rise may feel like it’s gradual, but the changes it brings can turn out to be sudden, massive, and self-reinforcing. These changes are what scientists call tipping points. When a tipping point is reached, an Earth system abruptly and dramatically changes, often irreversibly, like the Amazon rainforest turning into a savanna — a point of no return that is already perilously close.

But today, a group of 160 scientists from 23 countries is announcing that the planet has already reached its first major tipping point: the widespread death of warm-water coral reefs. That’s due primarily to rapidly rising marine temperatures — the seas have absorbed 90 percent of the excess heat we’ve created — but also the acidification that comes from more atmospheric CO2 interacting with water. (This interferes with corals’ ability to build the protective skeletons that form the complex structure of a reef.) Since the late 1980s, ocean surface warming has quadrupled. Accordingly, in the last half century, half of the world’s live coral cover has disappeared.

“We’re no longer talking about future tipping points — there’s one happening right now,” Steve Smith, a research impact fellow at the University of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute and a coauthor of the report, told Grist. “Although our governments are used to planning for incremental, slow change, things do seem to be speeding up.”

The more individual corals perish, the harder it gets for a reef to bounce back, destabilizing it and pushing it into a spiral of die-off. A quarter of all marine species rely on these bustling warm-water ecosystems — which cover some 350,000 square miles — but corals are bleaching as they release the symbiotic algae they need to harvest energy. Since 2023, more than 80 percent of the world’s reefs have suffered through the most widespread and intense bleaching event on record. Ever-higher acidification makes it even harder for corals to reproduce and then grow back from this kind of disturbance.

When we talk about climate change we usually think about the air and how it is getting warmer.. There is another big problem that is happening in the oceans. It is called ocean acidification. It is changing the chemistry of the water.

The oceans are like a sponge that absorbs all the bad things that we put into the air. This is good because it helps to slow down the warming of the planet.. It is also bad because it makes the oceans more acidic. This is a problem for all the living things in the ocean like coral and shellfish.

For websites like enviroforest.com it is really important to understand how all the different parts of the planet are connected. We need to take care of the oceans and the forests and all the other parts of the planet if we want to keep the planet healthy.

1. The Core Science Behind Ocean Acidification

To understand this problem we need to look at the chemistry of the oceans. The oceans cover most of the planet. They absorb a lot of the bad things that we put into the air.

The Chemical Chain Reaction

When we burn fuels we put a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air. The oceans absorb some of this carbon dioxide (CO2). It makes the water more acidic. This is a problem for all the living things in the ocean.

Here is how it works:

CO2 Dissolution: The carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves into the water.

Carbonic Acid Formation: The carbon dioxide (CO2) reacts with the water to form an acid.

Hydrogen Ion Release: The weak acid breaks down into bicarbonate and free hydrogen ions ($H^+$).

PH Reduction: The hydrogen ions ($H^+$) make the water more acidic.

Understanding the pH Scale Shift

The pH scale is like a measuring stick that shows how acidic or basic something is. The oceans used to be a bit basic but now they are getting more acidic. This is a problem because it is happening so fast.

2. The Cascading Toll on Marine Life

The problem with ocean acidification is that it hurts all the living things in the ocean. It is especially bad for things like coral and shellfish that have shells made out of calcium carbonate.

The Carbonate Ion Deficit

When the water gets more acidic it is harder for these living things to build their shells. It is like trying to build a house out of blocks. The blocks are all broken.

Vulnerable Species Highlighted

Pteropods (Sea Butterflies): These are animals that are an important food source for a lot of other animals.

Coral Reef Ecosystems: Coral reefs are like cities for fish and other animals. They provide a home and a place to hide.

Commercial Shellfish: Shellfish like oysters and mussels are a food source for people.

3. Beyond Shells: Disrupting Fish Behavior and Physiology

Ocean acidification is not a problem for things with shells. It also hurts fish and other animals that live in the ocean.

Altered Sensory Perceptions

When the water gets more acidic it can hurt the way fish think and behave. It is like they are swimming around in a fog and they cannot find their way.

Impaired Navigation

Fish need to be able to navigate to find food and avoid predators.. When the water is more acidic it is harder for them to do this.

4. Socioeconomic Impacts: The Human Element

Ocean acidification is not a problem for the environment. It is also a problem for people.

The Threat to Global Food Security

A lot of people rely on the ocean for food.. If the ocean is getting more acidic it can hurt the animals that people eat.

Economic Losses in the Seafood Industry

The seafood industry is a business.. If the ocean is getting more acidic it can hurt the animals that people harvest.

Loss of Coastal Protection

reefs are like a big shield that protects the coast from big waves and storms.. If the ocean is getting more acidic it can hurt the coral reefs and make the coast more vulnerable.

5. Strategic. Forward-Looking Solutions

We need to do something to stop ocean acidification. We can do this by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that we put into the air.

Global Carbon Emission Reductions

We need to stop burning fossil fuels and start using energy sources.

Protecting Natural Blue Carbon Sinks

We need to protect the places where the ocean can absorb carbon dioxide (CO2).

Localized Adaptation Strategies

We need to help the animals that are hurt by ocean acidification. We can do this by monitoring the water and making it less acidic.

6. Connection Points: The Global Ecosystem Link

The planet is, like a web. Everything is connected. When we hurt one part of the planet it can hurt all the parts.

How Healthy Landscapes Protect Our Oceans

We need to take care of the planet not just the oceans. We need to plant trees and protect the forests. This will help to keep the planet healthy.

Terrestrial forests are really good for the earth because they absorb a lot of stuff from the air. This bad stuff is what we call greenhouse gases. When we plant trees and take care of the land we are helping to keep our oceans clean.

We can make a difference by making choices every day. For example we can choose to buy things that are made in a way that does not hurt the earth. We can also use things that're friendly to the environment. If we do these things we can reduce the things we put into the air. This will help our oceans and the creatures that live in them.

Summary of Core Architectural Insights

Here are the points to remember about the oceans:

The oceans are getting more acidic because of the things people are putting into the air.

When the oceans get more acidic it is like a problem that gets worse really fast.

The creatures that live in the oceans like shellfish and corals need things to build their homes.. The acidic water is taking these things away.

The bad things in the water are also confusing the fish. Making it hard for them to survive.

If we do not take care of the oceans it will be bad for people too. We will not have much food and the oceans will not be able to protect us from big storms.

*. There are things we can do to help. We can protect the things in the oceans like the seagrass meadows and we can use clean energy.

The Path Forward

The oceans are, in trouble but we can still help them. The fact that the oceans are getting more acidic shows us that what we do matters. Our choices can. Help the earth.

If we want to take care of the earth we need to think about the big picture. We need to use bad stuff plant more trees and take care of the oceans. We need to make choices every day so that the oceans and the creatures that live in them can survive. Ocean acidification is a problem but if we work together we can make a difference.

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The world’s oceans are in worse health than realised, scientists have said today, as they warn that a key measurement shows we are “running out of time” to protect marine ecosystems.

Ocean acidification, often called the “evil twin” of the climate crisis, is caused when carbon dioxide is rapidly absorbed by the ocean, where it reacts with water molecules leading to a fall in the pH level of the seawater. It damages coral reefs and other ocean habitats and, in extreme cases, can dissolve the shells of marine creatures.

Until now, ocean acidification had not been deemed to have crossed its “planetary boundary”. The planetary boundaries are the natural limits of key global systems – such as climate, water and wildlife diversity – beyond which their ability to maintain a healthy planet is in danger of failing. Six of the nine had been crossed already, scientists said last year.

However, a new study by the UK’s Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), the Washington-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Oregon State University’s Co-operative Institute for Marine Resources Studies found that ocean acidification’s “boundary” was also reached about five years ago.

“Ocean acidification isn’t just an environmental crisis – it’s a ticking timebomb for marine ecosystems and coastal economies,” said PML’s Prof Steve Widdicombe, who is also co-chair of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network.

The study drew on new and historical physical and chemical measurements from ice cores, combined with advanced computer models and studies of marine life, which gave the scientists an overall assessment of the past 150 years.

It found that by 2020 the average ocean condition worldwide was already very close to – and in some regions beyond – the planetary boundary for ocean acidification. This is defined as when the concentration of calcium carbonate in seawater is more than 20% below preindustrial levels.

The deeper in the ocean they looked, the worse the findings were, the scientists said. At 200 metres below the surface, 60% of global waters had breached the “safe” limit for acidification.

“Most ocean life doesn’t just live at the surface,” said PML’s Prof Helen Findlay. “The waters below are home to many more different types of plants and animals. Since these deeper waters are changing so much, the impacts of ocean acidification could be far worse than we thought.”

This had, she added, huge implications for important underwater ecosystems such as tropical and even deep-sea coral reefs that provided essential habitats and nursery grounds for the young of many species.

As pH levels drop, calcifying species such as corals, oysters, mussels and tiny molluscs known as sea butterflies struggle to maintain their protective structures, leading to weaker shells, slower growth, reduced reproduction and decreased survival rates.

The authors underlined that decreasing CO2 emissions was the only way to deal with acidification globally, but that conservation measures could and should focus on the regions and species that were most vulnerable.

Jessie Turner, director of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, who was not involved in the study, said: “This report makes it clear: we are running out of time and what we do – or fail to do – now is already determining our future.

bc i know while i find it cool its probably boring for others and thats ok

There’s frustration among researchers that falling pH levels in seas around the globe are not being taken seriously enough, and that until the buildup of CO2 is addressed, the consequences for marine life will be devastating Read more: ‘Ticking timebomb’: sea acidity has reached critical levels, threatening entire ecosystems – study - By Lisa Bachelor On a clear day at Plymouth marina you can see across the harbour out past Drake’s Island – named after the city’s most famous son, Francis Drake – to the Channel. It’s quite often possible to see an abundance of marine vessels, from navy ships and passenger ferries to small fishing boats and yachts. What you might not spot from this distance is a large yellow buoy bobbing up and down in the water about six miles off the coast. This data buoy – L4 – is one of a number belonging to Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), a research centre in Devon dedicated to marine science. On a pleasantly calm May morning, Prof James Fishwick, PML’s head of marine technology and autonomy, is on top of the buoy checking it for weather and other damage. “This particular buoy is one of the most sophisticated in the world,” he says as he climbs the ladder to the top. “It’s decked out with instruments and sensors able to measure everything from temperature, to salinity, dissolved oxygen, light and acidity levels.” It’s the hourly recordings of this last measurement, the pH of the water, that are adding to a picture locally and globally that is increasingly concerning scientists. The results show that ocean acidification is rising – and it is doing so at an alarming rate. Ocean acidification, often called the “evil twin” of the climate crisis, is caused when carbon dioxide is rapidly absorbed into the ocean, where it then reacts with water molecules leading to a fall in the pH of the seawater.

I have SO MANY; I'm not even sure how to share them all.

Butterflies and moths are not taxonomic or cladistic groups; they're colloquial terms to refer to lepidoptera (the taxonomic order butterflies and moths belong to) that have different characteristics and behaviors. That said:

Moths tend to be nocturnal

Moths tend to have fuzzy bodies, butterflies are sleek

Moths tend to have fuzzy antennae, butterflies just have straight plain ones

The additional fuzz on months allows them to sense what's around them, which is helpful because they're not seeing as much because they're nocturnal

Moths tend to build chrysalises with silk but also leaves and mud, etc. These are known as cocoons. Butterflies only use silk and don't have cocoons (either are known as chrysalis)

The Atlas Moth has the biggest wingspan of any lepidoptera

The Atlas Moth usually emerges from its cocoon without a mouth. It can only breed and die

The Atlas Moth caterpillar lives for months. It's generally in the cocoon for months! But it only lives as an adult moth for a few days (because it can't even eat!)

Inside their chrysalises, caterpillars don't just grow wings and longer legs. They liquify completely and reform.

Caterpillars have six legs called "true legs" that mirror the six legs butterflies have. Then they have additional nubs farther down their bodies that help them move around.

Butterflies taste with their feet. If they land on you, they're tasting you!

Butterflies can only eat liquid. They primarily eat nectar and juice from fruit. Rotten fruit is easier for them because rotten fruit is juicy.

The butterfly mouth is called a proboscis. It curls up when not in use and uncurls when the butterfly eats. It's like a straw.

The word "proboscis" can sometimes refer (as a joke!) to nose, but butterflies can't smell with their proboscis. They smell with their antennae!

Like many insects, butterflies have faceted eyes. But unlike the movies, they probably don't see the same image over and over, because their vision isn't refined enough for that. What faceted eyes allow them to see are big patches of color, which is useful considering they eat fruit and flowers. If you want a butterfly to land on you, wear something colorful.

Butterflies don't have lungs. Like most insects, they breathe through holes in their bodies called spiracles.

Incidentally, this is why insects are so small. If they were giant, these holes would have to be bigger or there would have to be many more of them, and that would mean their exoskeleton was not stable!

Oh, yeah, butterflies do not have bones. Like all insects, they have an exoskeleton.

Butterflies do not have blood. Like all insects, they had a fluid that moves most nutrients through their bodies. It's called hemalymph. It carries hormones, nutrients, and waste. It's blue!

Male butterflies tend to be smaller and more colorful than female butterflies. This is the same style of sexual dimorphism present in most insects. Also in birds!

Male monarch butterflies have distinctive dark spots on the lower wings that female monarch butterflies don't have. The spots are scent glands that help them attract mates.

Most butterflies migrate. Like birds.

Monarch butterflies in North America east of the Rocky Mountains have one of the most impressive migration patterns of any animal. They may travel up to 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico, but what is most spectacular about it is that almost all of them end up in just a few spots relatively close together on some mountain peaks in Central Mexico. The monarchs are so dense that you can't see the trees.

Butterflies are great for studying evolutionary adaptations in coloration and appearance because they are so striking. Camouflage is the adaptation present when an animal blends in with its surroundings. Mimicry is the adaptation that makes an animal look like a different animal.

The owl butterfly is a great example of mimicry because it has two big owl eyes on its wings. The Atlas moth wing tips look like snake heads.

"Batesian mimicry" is named after Henry Walter Bates, who studied mimicry in butterflies. Batesian mimicry means that one species who is harmless looks like another species that is not harmless. Mullerian mimicry is when several species that are harmful all look like each other, so the warning to predators is stronger. Butterflies have great examples of both types of mimicry.

Monarch butterflies and viceroy butterflies were once thought to exhibit Batesian mimicry, because it was thought that vicroys weren't toxic, but it turns out both butterflies are poisonous and so the species have evolved to mimic each other in an example of Mullerian mimicry.

Monarch butterflies are poisonous because the milkweed caterpillars eat is poisonous