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SUMMARY:The geological record of ocean Acidification - Prof. Andy Ridgwell
 \, University of Bristol
DTSTART:20130128T170000Z
DTEND:20130128T180000Z
UID:TALK39407@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Lois Salem
DESCRIPTION:The future consequences of ocean acidification for marine ecos
 ystems are difficult to assess\, in part because laboratory experiments ar
 e limited by their necessary short time-scales and reduced ecologic comple
 xity. In contrast\, the geological record is replete not only with a varie
 ty of global environmental perturbations that may include ocean acidificat
 ion\, but also associated biotic responses including adaptation and evolut
 ion. However\, for the geological record to provide future-relevant inform
 ation about potential species and ecosystem responses\, qualitatively (and
  ideally quantitatively)similar changes in carbonate chemistry to those pr
 ojected for the future\, must have occurred. For long-term (million year) 
 intervals of quasi steady state in throughput of carbonate carbon weatheri
 ng vs.sedimentary burial)\, we already know that high pCO2 and low ocean s
 urface pH does not imply reduced carbonate saturation and hence pressure o
 n marine calcifiers\, although this issue continues to cause confusion in 
 the climate change debate. Rapid\, future-like events in contrast\, are ch
 aracterized by a strong coupled decline in both pH and saturation in respo
 nse to CO2 emissions. I this talk I will address the questions: at what ra
 te of atmospheric pCO2 change does ocean acidification become qualitativel
 y similar to current and future changes\, and have any events in the geolo
 gical past exhibited the characteristics of anthropogenic ocean acidificat
 ion?
LOCATION:Harker Room 1\, Department of Earth Sciences
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