This article reveals how dragging fishing nets across the ocean floor, aka bottom trawling, is a significant yet previously unaccounted contributor to atmospheric carbon emissions. Roughly 55-60% of carbon dioxide produced underwater because of bottom trawling enters the atmosphere within 9 years. The carbon released from this approximately doubles the annual emissions from fuel combustion of the entire global fishing fleet. Specifically, the East China Sea, the Baltic and North Seas, and the Greenland Sea all have especially high carbon emissions from bottom trawling. So, we need to start addressing bottom trawling when addressing climate change. This is all related to ocean acidification because 40-45% of the carbon that is dislodged from the ocean floor remains in the water. This carbon then contributes to ocean acidification in that specific area, which further damages marine life.

This is related to environmental science because although climate change is a huge part of the environmental science curriculum, and is related to lots of the jobs in the environmental science field, this issue seems to go widely overlooked and unnoticed. For something that contributes to localized ocean acidification and global carbon emissions, most people have probably never even considered that bottom trawling could be so harmful. So, it highlights something that has been overlooked for decades but will need to be addressed if we want a chance at stopping climate change. 

National Geographic Pristine Seas. (2024, January 18). Team uncovers new marine source of carbon emissions into atmosphere. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-team-uncovers-marine-source-carbon.html

Scientists at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) recently published a study about the alarming changes in the North Atlantic Ocean over the past 40 years. There has been a 1°C increase in the surface temperature, an increase in salinity, a decrease in dissolved oxygen, a decline in pH, and over 30% ocean acidification. Since the 80s they have kept track of critical oceanic parameters, all of which have consistently been increasing. The study puts emphasis on the changing chemical environment in the ocean due to anthropogenic CO2 uptake; this can cause a lot of problems in the future. Overall, they show a very clear connection between ocean warming and the chemistry behind it all, as well as the potential future implications.

This is related to environmental science because it talks about the scientific changes in the North Atlantic Ocean over the last 40 years. It discusses important topics like surface warming, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and ocean acidification, all of which are topics that we’ve covered or used in experiments of our own. It discusses the human impact on the ocean’s chemical composition and the ecosystems within. Overall, learning how things within the ocean work together to create some of the changes we’ve been seeing due to climate change and human activity is one of the main focuses of environmental science which makes it very relevant. 

Dua, S. (2023, December 8). Over four decades, North Atlantic near Bermuda saw a 6% oxygen decline. North Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda lost 6% oxygen in 40 years. https://interestingengineering.com/science/north-atlantic-bermuda-oxygen-decline 

The topic of this article is a study by Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg out of the University of Queensland which warns about the mass coral bleaching that he believes will take place over the next 1-2 years. He claims that due to record-breaking marine heatwaves felt in 2023, it will lead to devastating coral bleaching which will then contribute to mass marine mortality. These ecosystems have been feeling extreme pressure for a very extended period, and the stress conditions these ecosystems are under are simply not sustainable. Roughly 25% of marine biodiversity relies on coral reefs, so this could be detrimental to marine ecosystems. He talks about how climate change mitigation is critical if we want to prevent the mass death of corals and save these ecosystems. 

This is related to environmental science because the study is looking at unprecedented ocean temperature data, sustained heat stress conditions that started earlier, and pressure on coral reefs globally. This amount of stress put on such a vital part of the marine environment has never before been seen. Without emphasizing saving the coral reefs very quickly, marine biodiversity will decrease incredibly fast, and many more marine species will become endangered very quickly. 

Ralls, E. (2023, December 8). Devastating coral bleaching is expected around the world within the next year. Earth.com. https://www.earth.com/news/devastating-coral-bleaching-is-expected-around-the-world-within-the-next-year/ 

This article discusses the University of Colorado Boulder’s research on the rising acidity level in the Arctic coastal waters. When compared to the 90s, they predicted that by the end of the century, acidity could increase by over 100%. This is a serious threat to the very diverse marine life that lives in the Southern Ocean. The study mainly focused on the upper 650 feet of the ocean; this area is extremely important for marine organisms, and without globally cutting emissions, the acidification will continue to escalate and affect even more ocean life. They warn that even protected marine areas could feel the consequences of climate change and acidification which will endanger many vital ecosystems.

This is related to environmental science because the effect of climate change on complex marine ecosystems is very relevant to the health of so many other ecosystems, and even us. It discusses not only the human impact primarily throughout the 21st century, but also the chain reaction between one animal or organism being affected by the rising acidity, and the other animals in that ecosystem that are also vulnerable. It also stresses the importance of reducing CO2 emissions and addressing climate change, which is a subject that is very important when discussing environmental science.

Ralls, E. (2024, January 14). Antarctic water acidity levels will soon double, greatly harming marine life. Earth.com. https://www.earth.com/news/acidity-levels-of-antarctic-waters-will-soon-double-harming-life/ 

The article discusses an outbreak of sea lions on California beaches, and over the West Coast, showing up dead on the beach. This is due to an outbreak of a certain harmful algae named pseudo-nitzschia. This algae creates a harmful amino acid that acts as a neurotoxin and thus kills the sea lions. There was a similar outbreak last year, but it wasn’t nearly as bad. This is happening because there are many things that are allowing the harmful algae to flourish, but one of them is the ocean becoming more acidic. The rising acidity creates an environment more suitable for harmful algae to grow.

This is environmental science because the article discusses the many environmental issues that have all contributed to this devastating algae being able to thrive. In addition, with many sea lions dying, this will affect the ecosystem. This was very interesting because of how many sea lions this algae is taking out and algae isn’t something people typically see as deadly. In addition, I wasn’t aware that rising acidity in an environment can better allow harmful algae to grow.

Cleary, M. (2023, June 28). “It gets worse every day”: why are sea lions and dolphins dying along California’s coast? | California | The Guardian. Amp.theguardian.com. https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/28/california-beaches-sea-lions-dolphins-dead 

This article goes over the worst-case scenarios of ocean acidification where the ocean pH decreases to between 7.8 and 7.9 which means that carbonic ion concentrations would have decreased by at least 50%. This would make oceans nearly inhabitable for ocean animals because most species rely on one another to survive, so even if just a few couldn’t survive those conditions, the ecosystem would likely collapse. It also talks about how ocean acidification is speeding up significantly, with the ocean becoming much more acidic in recent years than in decades previously combined. It also specifically talks about what will happen to a variety of animals as the ocean becomes more acidic and how it will affect other animals.

This is related to environmental science because it talks about the science behind the environmental issue of ocean acidification and not only what it affects, but how and why. In addition, it talks about a specific animal that is being affected and what we need to do to stop what is happening. This was interesting because I know that ocean acidification affects animals and marine life, but I wasn’t sure about specific animals other than sea creatures with shells. So, it was interesting to read about more animals in the ecosystem, how they affect each other, and how the ocean becoming more acidic will affect the ecosystem as a whole. 

Rafferty, J. P. (2023, April 21). ocean acidification. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/ocean-acidification

This article focuses on Washington State and the effects of ocean acidification on marine life in the state. The article says how ocean acidification harms marine life, food security, cultural practices, fisheries, and the shellfish industry, but Washington is combating this and has been since 2018 when it became the first state to start an ocean monitoring program. In addition, they’ve set many different deadlines for how much they want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, though these issues may be hitting Washington harder than other states, these issues they face are seen throughout the country.

This article shows just how much Washington relies on marine life and how detrimental it would be if ocean acidification continued in the direction that it’s going for both marine life and human lives. This is related to environmental science because it talks about an environmental problem, ocean acidification, and addresses the issue and aims to solve it through scientific means and practices. In addition, they are solving these problems through data that they collected and continue to collect.

Flores, M. (2023, June 8). Striving for a resilient ocean on World Ocean Day. Ecology.wa.gov. https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2023/striving-for-a-resilient-ocean-on-world-ocean-day 

This article discusses the steps taken and the steps that will be taken to help combat climate change and its effects on the ocean by the Biden-Harris administration. The article mentions how the US is under the jurisdiction of coastlines throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic oceans, so we need to take steps in order to minimize ocean acidification and harm to marine life. In addition, it talks about the Ocean Climate Action Plan which has the intention of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the US Ocean Acidification Action Plan which intends to reduce carbon emissions as well as ocean research.

This is related to environmental science because it discusses the current problems with how the US is treating the environment and what methods they will take to reduce our carbon footprint through environmental science methods like wind and renewable marine energy. I think that the numerous methods and plans in place make me hopeful that the Biden administration will actually make some progress toward lowering our carbon footprint and reducing ocean acidification.

Ocean Solutions to a More Sustainable World | OSTP. (2023, June 1). The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/06/01/ocean-solutions-to-a-more-sustainable-world/