Dr. Ken Caldeira
Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Stanford University
What Corals Are Dying to Tell Us about Carbon Dioxide and Ocean Acidification
Most of the carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal, oil, and gas are ultimately absorbed by the ocean. Carbon dioxide reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid; this acid can dissolve the shells and skeletons of marine organisms. The current trend of increasing carbon dioxide emissions threatens the extinction of many types of marine organisms, including corals, with unknown consequences for marine ecosystems globally. Dr. Caldeira discussed what is known about ocean acidification, the environmental consequences, and actions that could be taken to avoid the risk of environmental catastrophe in our oceans.
