City is research hub for ocean acidification
Plymouth is to be the European hub for research into a phenomenon dubbed “climate change’s evil twin”.
The rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere – released mainly by burning fossil fuels – is creating a “greenhouse effect” causing global warming. The sea acts as a “carbon sink”, absorbing or releasing carbon.
The high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are overwhelming the capacity of the carbon sink and changing the acidity of the oceans.
Although this increase in acidity is so slight that we would not notice it, the impact on marine animals can be catastrophic.
This change in chemistry has already been shown to have wide-ranging effects on myriad marine life, including the ability of some to build their shells.
Scientists suspect there are many more consequences so far not fully understood.
Now Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) has opened the first European hub as part of a global network to observe and assess ocean acidification and its impact upon the world ocean.
The North East Atlantic Ocean Acidification Hub has been established, with sup- port from Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and will act as the European regional centre for monitoring and research into ocean acidification.
The Plymouth hubs will be part of a network across North America, Latin America, Africa and the Western Pacific.
Prof Steve Widdicombe, who will lead the hub, said: “Scientists all across Europe are already producing excellent science for monitoring the rate of ocean acidification and describing the likely impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems.
“The role of the hub will be to bring all this knowledge and information together for a more comprehensive understanding.”
Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “The UK is home to world-leading marine scientists and institutions and we are proud to lead the way on research into ocean acidification.”
‘The role of the hub will be to bring all this together ’
Prof Steve Widdicombe