The Pacific Ocean is so acidic that it's dissolving Dungeness crabs' shells

Re:The Pacific Ocean is so acidic that it's dissolving Dunge... by javajosh on Tuesday January 28, 2020 @01:11PM (#22172243)

>The present concentration of co2 in the atmosphere according to Zhang, Yi Ge; et al. is the highest in 14m years. Given crabs in general have been around adapting for 145m years, I do not think the current levels will be detrimental.

It's not my field, but doesn't the rate-of-change matter even more than absolute value in time? Life can and does adjust, but it takes generations; if things change too fast, then only the quickest (smallest) life-forms can adapt.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The Pacific Ocean is so acidic that it's dissolving Dunge... by ghastmaster on Tuesday January 28, 2020 @01:49PM (#22172722)

Species that have more offspring faster would be better able to adapt. This current rate of change is not unusual(see my reply to lukastr0).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The Pacific Ocean is so acidic that it's dissolving Dunge... by tezzer on Tuesday January 28, 2020 @02:16PM (#22173026)

"not unusual" is a little facetious, don't you think? Vinther was studying a drastic loss of polar ice in reaction to a historical (unexplained?) sudden rise in temperature, and raising an alarm in light of our current warming.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The Pacific Ocean is so acidic that it's dissolving Dunge... by ghastmaster on Tuesday January 28, 2020 @03:23PM (#22173670)

I was not trying to be facetious. I think that since we have seen two similar rises in temperature in the last 10,000 years, it is very likely they have occurred relatively frequently in the past 145m years. I do not see how what he is studying is relevant here.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The Pacific Ocean is so acidic that it's dissolving Dunge... by tezzer on Tuesday January 28, 2020 @06:31PM (#22175368)

I'm reminded of an old mentor's saying: One is an anomaly, two is a coincidence, three is a pattern. I'd be interested to know the causes and the effects of the temperature rise that makes you think this one is no big deal. There is a lot of evidence to indicate it's a very big deal.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The Pacific Ocean is so acidic that it's dissolving Dunge... by ghastmaster on Wednesday January 29, 2020 @11:34AM (#22182405)

I would love to know the causes and effects as well. Given evidence is still lacking, and this article is regarding a study that has only been done once, I would like to see follow up studies to see a pattern arise in OA effects on this species.

[ Parent | on HN ]