Ocean acidification

A proven process: limestone dosing has already been used to restore river ecosystems damaged by acidifcation – but it could be an extremely powerful carbon capture tool as well

Environment

Cheap, scalable carbon capture method also rejuvenates rivers

A technique originally developed to combat acid rain has the potential to pull an enormous amount of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere – while helping to deacidify oceans, restore rivers and boost biodiversity and fish populations.

Researchers recover their Seaglider drone after real-world testing

Environment

Underwater Seaglider drone deployed to monitor ocean acidification

Measuring ocean acidification is possible to an extent with sensors fitted to stationary buoys and vessels, but a newly fitted out deep-diving underwater drone promises to fill in the blanks in a big way.

Researchers have found that ocean acidification increases the amount of nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere

Environment

Acidic oceans may release more nitrous oxide into the atmosphere

Scientists have uncovered an unfortunate feedback loop that could make things worse for the climate. According to a new study, ocean acidification seems to increase the amount of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, that’s released into the air.

Yale researchers have found direct evidence of ocean acidification coinciding with the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs

Science

Dinosaur-killing asteroid made oceans too acidic for life

About 65 million years ago, a huge asteroid slammed into the Earth and wiped out three quarters of all life on Earth, including the dinosaurs. Now, Yale researchers have found evidence that oceans became too acidic for marine animals to take.

The team observed coral fragments over the course of a two-year field study

Biology

Skeletally-weakened Caribbean corals could survive in future Earth's acidic oceans

Three species of Caribbean coral are hardy enough to survive the rising levels of ocean acidification expected to take place over the next century. Whilst the corals were able to live in the unusually hostile environment, their skeletons were seriously affected, leaving them vulnerable to erosion.

A new study has found that human activity is dissolving the seafloor

Environment

The seafloor is dissolving, thanks to human activity

As the seas get warmer and more acidic, all kinds of havoc is wrought, and now a new study has identified yet another symptom. Researchers at Princeton and McGill Universities have found that the seafloor is beginning to dissolve as a result of human activity.

When exposed to conditions that already occur in some parts of the ocean, invertebrate aquatic creatures called bryozoans were found to start dissolving

Biology

Study shows warming, acidifying oceans could dissolve sea creatures

Warming oceans might sound like a good thing for swimmers, but they're wreaking havoc on marine life. Researchers at UC Davis have found that warming and acidifying waters can cause invertebrate organisms called bryozoa to begin dissolving – and other sea creatures could soon face a similar fate.

It's the first time that both a CO2 and pH sensor have been deployed in the continental shelf waters of the Southern Ocean

Environment

Hi-tech mooring records ocean acidity beneath Antarctic ice

Researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science have deployed an innovative, sensor-studded mooring – as tall as the Empire State Building – beneath waters in Antarctica usually inaccessible through the winter.

Carbon dioxide can make fish do some strange things

Environment

Dazed and confused: Rising C02 sends fish swimming towards predators

New research has revealed that more acidic waters as a result of climate change can throw fishes' survival instincts out of whack, and can sometimes even cause them to swim towards predators.