Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification is a recently confirmed up-and-coming problem that is linked to global climate change. Sometimes referred to as "the other carbon problem," ocean acidification results from the ocean acting as a chemical sink for CO2 in the atmosphere. When the CO2 dissolves into the water, it undergoes a chemical reaction and becomes carbonic acid, and this is argued to be detrimental for any and all organisms in the ocean that create shells or skeletons out of calcium carbonate. Similarly to the increase in carbon in the atmosphere over the past several decades, there has been an increase in carbon in the ocean as well, and the imminent problem acidification poses is the threat of collapsing food chains and ecosystems as corals and other base organisms fail to thrive in an altered environment.

The following articles are examined for their viewpoints on the issue of ocean acidification. Types of media included range from videos, to news articles, to fact sheets and brochures, and are evaluated for scientific balance and logical reasoning.

Monday, July 4, 2011

"Scripps Investigates Ocean Acidification"

A brochure from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

The author of this document holds the view that increased carbon in the atmosphere and ocean is due to anthropomorphic causes, and that the organization behind the document will be a leader in discovering solutions to the problem of ocean acidification. The process of ocean acidification is not specifically identified, but the predicted effects are extensively conveyed. Groups, people, and organizations that are working on the problem are written about, and research projects and goals are brought up as a solution to ocean acidification.

This document is somewhat scientifically balanced, as both the problem and the solution are identified, but this is not specifically an educational piece, and does not clearly explain what ocean acidification is. The piece seems to be more like promotion material for the founding organization, their initiatives and their partner organizations. Though, in contrast, the focus on efforts being physically in the present made could be seen as a positive element, speaking about solutions rather than just the problems. The language is accessible, but perhaps slightly biased to favour the organization that is putting out the document. No sources are cited as support or evidence for factual claims, though perhaps the organization does not feel the need to include references, as they conduct much of the supporting research, themselves.

No comments:

Post a Comment