Over the past 100 years, levels of carbon in the atmosphere have risen 30%—to 393 parts per million. One thing that has kept global warming in check is that the oceans absorb a third of that carbon dioxide. Until recently the process of oceans soaking up our excess CO2 was considered beneficial. But the 22 million tons per day of carbon dioxide that the oceans are taking up is beginning to wreak havoc on ocean ecosystems. Scientists are discovering that all this carbon dioxide is causing the ocean to rapidly acidify, changing ocean ecosystems in profound ways.
On this episode of Locus Focus we talk with Brita Belli, editor of E Magazine and author of the lead article in this month's issue: "This Is Your Ocean On Acid." We'll discuss how ocean acidification is threatening nearly every aspect of the ocean food web, from shellfish to coral reefs.
Brita Belli is editor of E and author of The Autism Puzzle: Connecting the Dots Between Environmental Toxins and Rising Autism Rates.
- KBOO