![Picture](/uploads/2/5/9/1/25914144/570424.jpg)
Week 5
The natural impacts of climate change were investigated with glaciers and ocean acidification being the case studies.
As factors like air temperature, water temperature, glacier speed and the fjord topography can control calving, it seems that climate change can impact on all these factors.
From previous weeks we know that air and water temperature are rising, therefore this will increase melt rate. This may impact glacier speed, as less hard ice would flow quicker. This would then impact on fjord topography as more rapidly moving ice floes could increase erosion, widening fjords and increasing the width of ice floes, increasing the potential movement more.
The natural impacts of climate change were investigated with glaciers and ocean acidification being the case studies.
As factors like air temperature, water temperature, glacier speed and the fjord topography can control calving, it seems that climate change can impact on all these factors.
From previous weeks we know that air and water temperature are rising, therefore this will increase melt rate. This may impact glacier speed, as less hard ice would flow quicker. This would then impact on fjord topography as more rapidly moving ice floes could increase erosion, widening fjords and increasing the width of ice floes, increasing the potential movement more.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/9/1/25914144/1241624.jpg)
The impact of ocean acidifcation may mean that species that require calcium carbonate for shells, may not survive or will have to adapt to the changing ocean pH. This is due to the increased amount of carbon in the oceans which means the levels of calcium carbonate in the ocean aren't at saturation levels (carbon is being used to 'mop up' hydrogen ions).
"As we've learned, when carbon dioxide increases in the ocean, we get a reduction in the
carbonate ions, because it's soaking up those hydrogen ions acting as a buffer. So as ocean
acidification progresses, the amount of carbonate that's available for these shells to form will
start to decrease. But also the ocean will become under saturated, and we'll see that tendency
for shells and structures, such as this, to start dissolving."
It isn't known yet what impact this will have on marine life. Studies so far have found that different species, unsurprisingly will react differently. It's likely that, as with all climate change, some species will adapt, e.g. urchins (nature world) and some may not be able to, e.g. coral (Scientific American).
It's likely that those organisms that have a 'r' strategy for life history, e.g. mature quickly, lots of offspring, small size etc are more likely to be able to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
"As we've learned, when carbon dioxide increases in the ocean, we get a reduction in the
carbonate ions, because it's soaking up those hydrogen ions acting as a buffer. So as ocean
acidification progresses, the amount of carbonate that's available for these shells to form will
start to decrease. But also the ocean will become under saturated, and we'll see that tendency
for shells and structures, such as this, to start dissolving."
It isn't known yet what impact this will have on marine life. Studies so far have found that different species, unsurprisingly will react differently. It's likely that, as with all climate change, some species will adapt, e.g. urchins (nature world) and some may not be able to, e.g. coral (Scientific American).
It's likely that those organisms that have a 'r' strategy for life history, e.g. mature quickly, lots of offspring, small size etc are more likely to be able to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/9/1/25914144/8517617.jpg)
It is interesting, and slightly confusing why ocean acidification isn't as well known a threat as sea level rise. 3.5 billion people rely on the sea for primary source of
food (save the sea). Ocean acidification may
impact heavily on this, due to food chains collapsing.
Due to sea level rise it is estimated that by the end of the century 94 million people will be flooded annually, particularly in low lying areas such as Bangladesh (IPPC). On those figures it suggests that acidification, although the lesser known of the two impacts of climate change, could have the greatest impact.
Due to sea level rise it is estimated that by the end of the century 94 million people will be flooded annually, particularly in low lying areas such as Bangladesh (IPPC). On those figures it suggests that acidification, although the lesser known of the two impacts of climate change, could have the greatest impact.