See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Global Warming Science: Implications for Geoscientists, Educators, and Policy Makers II
Abstract:
This change in ocean chemistry appears to be unprecedented in Earth history. The closest analog is the massive release of carbon that caused the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (~55.5 Mya), a time of extreme global warming. Various geochemical records suggest the ocean may have absorbed as much as 6000 Pg C during this event. Although the total mass of carbon released during the PETM is similar to the projected anthropogenic mass (~4500 Pg C), the flux was spread over a much longer period (5 to 10 k.y.). As a result, because of mixing with the deep ocean where chemical dissolution of seafloor carbonates prevents large swings in pH, the surface ocean saturation state did not change appreciably. Nevertheless, the changes in carbonate chemistry were long lasting (>100 k.y.) and likely contributed to the demise of pelagic protists, and possibly corals. To avoid substantial changes in ocean pH, it will be necessary for society to substantially slow the rate of carbon emissions, either by reducing fossil fuel consumption or by sequestration.
See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Global Warming Science: Implications for Geoscientists, Educators, and Policy Makers II