Carbon dioxide and ocean acidification observations in UK waters. Synthesis report with a focus on 2010–2015

Ostle, Clare, Williamson, Phillip ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4149-5110, Artioli, Yuri, Bakker, Dorothee C. E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9234-5337, Birchenough, Silvana, Davis, Clare E., Dye, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4182-8475, Edwards, Martin, Findlay, Helen S., Greenwood, Naomi, Hartman, Susan, Humphreys, Matthew P., Jickells, Tim, Johnson, Martin, Landschuetzer, Peter, Parker, Ruth, Pearce, David, Pinnegar, John, Robinson, Carol ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3033-4565, Schuster, Ute, Silburn, Briony, Thomas, Rob, Wakelin, Sarah, Walsham, Pamela and Watson, Andrew J. (2016) Carbon dioxide and ocean acidification observations in UK waters. Synthesis report with a focus on 2010–2015. University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Key messages: 1.1 The process of ocean acidification is now relatively well-documented at the global scale as a long-term trend in the open ocean. However, short-term and spatial variability can be high. 1.2 New datasets made available since Charting Progress 2 make it possible to greatly improve the characterisation of CO2 and ocean acidification in UK waters. 3.1 Recent UK cruise data contribute to large gaps in national and global datasets. 3.2 The new UK measurements confirm that pH is highly variable, therefore it is important to measure consistently to determine any long term trends. 3.3 Over the past 30 years, North Sea pH has decreased at 0.0035±0.0014 pH units per year. 3.4 Upper ocean pH values are highest in spring, lowest in autumn. These changes reflect the seasonal cycles in photosynthesis, respiration (decomposition) and water mixing. 3.5 Carbonate saturation states are minimal in the winter, and lower in 7 more northerly, colder waters. This temperature-dependence could have implications for future warming of the seas. 3.6 Over the annual cycle, North-west European seas are net sinks of CO2. However, during late summer to autumn months, some coastal waters may be significant sources. 3.7 In seasonally-stratified waters, sea-floor organisms naturally experience lower pH and saturation states; they may therefore be more vulnerable to threshold changes. 3.8 Large pH changes (0.5 - 1.0 units) can occur in the top 1 cm of sediment; however, such effects are not well-documented. 3.9 A coupled forecast model estimates the decrease in pH trend within the North Sea to be -0.0036±0.00034 pH units per year, under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario (RCP 8.5). 3.10 Seasonal estimates from the forecast model demonstrate areas of the North Sea that are particularly vulnerable to aragonite undersaturation.

Item Type: Book
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 14 - life below water ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/life_below_water
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017)
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Climate, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017)
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Resources, Sustainability and Governance (former - to 2018)
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 27 Jun 2016 13:00
Last Modified: 20 Mar 2023 09:42
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/59604
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4819.4164

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