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Ingunn Skjelvan (from the left), Nadine Goris, Siv Kari Lauvset and Are Olsen used some months during springtime to gather results and write the new UNEP Foresight Brief on ocean acidification, food security and implications for the earth system. Photo: Gudrun Sylte 

Revisiting ocean acidification for UNEP

By taking up CO2, the oceans slow down the pace of climate change. But this invaluable service of the oceans comes at a cost. Are Olsen, Nadine Goris, Siv Kari Lauvset and Ingunn Skjelvan are revisiting the problem of ocean acidification in a new Foresight Brief published by the UN Environment. 

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In a short and handy format, in an all-audience language, the new Foresight brief summarizes new findings and results on the situation of ocean acidification. Are, Nadine, Siv and Ingunn write:

““We are able to document the ocean CO2 uptake and acidification because the global science community has made systematic measurements in the oceans over the past decades. The data clearly show that CO2 levels are increasing and pH is decreasing. In particular, time series stations, where observations are made several times each year, show that in the surface ocean, COis increasing at approximately the same rate as in the atmosphere and pH follows suit.”

Read the Foresight online here, and find a downloadable pdf here 

“The total amount of anthropogenic CO2 in the ocean can be determined from the measurements. It is now approximately 620 gigatons of CO2, which corresponds to 27% of the total emissions from 1800 to 2016”

The Foresight brief summarises important findings and results on observations of ocean carbon uptake and acidification, future projections, ecosystem impacts and possible consequences for marine food resources, and is based on research at the Bjerknes Centre and from the research community at large.

– It is both an overview and an introduction to the theme of ocean acidification at large. We are not only presenting our own activities, but are also giving an overview of various other sides of the ocean acidification problem, like effects and impact that are studied at other research communities, Ingunn Skjelvan, researcher at Norce and the Bjerknes Centre, says. 

– We are happy to contribute to such an overview that is also spread in the UN system, Are Olsen, professor at the GFI and Bjerknes Centre, adds.

 

 

Map of the world oceans related to ocean acidification
Figuren viser spredning av menneskeskapt CO2 i havet. Fargene viser mengde karbon. Brune farger viser høye verdier. Kart ved  Siv K. Lauvset, publisert i  Lauvset et al. 2016