Posted on 11/17/2007 2:27:24 PM PST by blam
Ocean Plankton Reducing Greenhouse Gases By Using More Carbon Dioxide
Microalgae under the microscope: CO2-feeders in the ocean. (Credit: A. Stuhr/ IFM-GEOMAR)
ScienceDaily (Nov. 17, 2007) — Microscopically tiny marine organisms known as plankton increase their carbon uptake in response to increased concentrations of dissolved CO2 and thereby contribute to a dampening of the greenhouse effect on a global scale. An international group of scientists led by the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences in Kiel, Germany documented this biological mechanism in a natural plankton community for the first time.
In simulations of the future ocean, they measured an increased CO2 uptake of up to 39%. The unexpected positive effect for the global climate system harbours at the same time considerable risks for the oceans and their ecosystems.
The study points to three major areas of concern: increased CO2 uptake by plankton will accelerate the rate of ocean acidification in deeper layers, lead to a decrease in oxygen concentrations in the deeper ocean, and will negatively influence the nutritional quality of plankton. The latter development can have consequences for entire food webs in the ocean.
The world oceans are by far the largest sink of anthropogenic CO2 on our planet. Until now, they have swallowed almost half of the CO2 emitted through the burning of fossil fuels. However, can the oceans continue to alleviate the steady rise in atmospheric CO2 in the future? Current models for the development of the global climate system do not incorporate the reaction of marine organisms nor the processes that they influence.
Professor Ulf Riebesell, marine biologist at IFM-GEOMAR in Kiel and the first author of the study, gives insight into the motivation for the research: “We need to learn a lot more about the biology of the oceans, because the organisms play a decisive role in the carbon cycle. How do they affect the chemical balance and what are their responses to the enormous environmental changes we are currently experiencing?” The Nature publication provides new insights into these effects and their dimension.
To investigate the biological processes and their potential changes with time, the scientists made use of an unusual experimental set up in the Raunefjord in Norway. Here, a series of nine mesocosms, enclosures manufactured from a specialized synthetic material and measuring 10 meters in depth, were used to isolate 27 cubic meters of natural fjord water. In the experimental design, Ulf Riebesell and his team maintained three enclosures at current CO2 conditions as a control, while they infused CO2 in the remaining mesocosms to simulate predicted concentrations for the year 2100 and the year 2150.
The critters in the mesocosms responded quickly to the extra serving of CO2. The higher the concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide, the faster the microalgae incorporated the greenhouse gas via photosynthesis. Can CO2 act as a fertilizer in the ocean? The scientists measured an increased uptake of up to 39% compared to current rates.
Ulf Riebesell describes the reaction of his team: “We expected the organisms to show distinct reactions to changing CO2 conditions. What really surprised us, however, was the dimension of this effect. Basically, we can now say that the biology in the oceans is significantly affecting the global climate system.” In the final step of the experiment, the scientists wanted to find out what happens with the rapidly proliferating biomass. Again the experiments in the Raunefjord provided insights: the extra CO2 bound in organic matter sank to depth after the peak of the algal bloom.
The CO2 fertilization of marine plankton can have a positive effect on climate change in the future. The greenhouse gas consumed by plankton and removed from the surface ocean when the dying cells sink to depth makes way for the uptake of more CO2. In a way, the tiny organisms act as a biological conveyer belt for the transport of carbon dioxide out of the surface and into the deep ocean.
What appears to be a blessing for the atmospheric greenhouse effect may prove to be a curse for deep ocean ecosystems. Decomposition of the increased biomass will consume more oxygen, a major problem for marine animals that occupy deep habitats. Another consequence of the biological conveyer belt is the accelerated rate of ocean acidification in the deep ocean due to more rapid transport of CO2 to depth. The authors also expect direct affects on marine organisms based on previous observations. Planktonic crustaceans that were fed with CO2-enriched microalgae displayed slower growth rates and were less proliferous.
Ulf Riebesell remarks on the consequences of the study: "Our results probably represent only the tip of the iceberg. I am certain that scientists will discover further biological feedback mechanisms in the near future. It is essential not only to identify and to understand these mechanisms, but also to quantify their effect on the global climate system, now and in the future. “
The experiments in Bergen were conducted in the framework of the research program CARBOOCEAN, funded by the European Union.
Journal reference: Enhanced biological carbon consumption in a high CO2 ocean. Ulf Riebesell1, Kai Schulz1, Richard Bellerby2,3, Mona Botros1, Peter Fritsche1, Michael Meyerhöfer1, Craig Neill2, Gisle Nondal2,3, Andreas Oschlies1, Julia Wohlers1 & Eckart Zöllner1.
Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences (IFM-GEOMAR) in Kiel, Germany Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research in Bergen, Norway Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Norway
Adapted from materials provided by Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences.
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! The sky....
Nevermind.
Whatever they find, it's always the harbinger of an ecological disaster.
The Save the Whale Environmental Crowd doesn't want whales hunted at all by anyone, for any reason.
Whales Eat PLANKTON!
So the Whales and EnviroNUTZOIDS are the cause of Global Warming. < /S
Yes, but if sunrise/sunset are affected by global warming there won’t be enough light for plankton to grow.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926830/posts
Even good news is bad news.
“half of the CO2 emitted through the burning of fossil fuels”
Sure is amazing, isn’t it, how those smart little plankton fellers can discriminate between the “ CO2 emitted through the burning of fossil fuels” and cow farts! not to mention volcanoes, California wild fires, and other natural chemical reactions (all them thar other oxidations resulting in CO2 release). Just amazing!
and ditto for the things that eat the plankton eaters...
and the things that eat them...
and ...and ....and then there'd be TOO MUCH biodiversity!
(Running in circles flapping arms and screaming "We're all gonna DIE!)
Oh. /SARC
SO what's the problem, anyway?
(The 'crisis' ends and the protestors have to find something else to do for a living...)
Nature rocks!
I don't know about you, but I'm hiding under the bed until this blows over.
<speculation>
These points make no sense to me:
1) Increased intake of dissolved CO2 should decrease acidity since less dissolved CO2 will be available and should form less weak carbonic acid.
2) The plankton are absorbing CO2 not oxygen. How can that reduce oxygen levels?
3) If the plankton are growing by absorbing more CO2, how would this decrease its nutritional value. I would expect that effect would increase it.
</speculation>
So in other words, EVERY SINGLE computer global warming model is wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice of them to admit that
Yup, plants convert CO2 into Oxygen!
Always have done so, and alway will continue to do so.
My evil plan is working!!!
Oh no, those darn plankton are ruining the Left’s plans to initiate new taxes in order to fight global warming. They must be stopped!
Especially since much of this CO2 will be used to make shells that are mostly made up of Calcium Carbonate which is an Alkaline buffer.
2 & 3 are also just as silly, I guess they have to include the possibility of some kind of environmental disaster no matter how silly in whatever study in order to get funding.
Algore converts oxygen to CO2, but he is a plant.
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