"Sorry that you don't get it. A small shift in the pH of seawater means a large shift in the saturation state with respect to calcium carbonate
You're doing the same thing i pointed out was done in htat paper. You think the matter's covered by alkalinity, but as I pointed out, it's not.
"Reducing the seawater concentration of carbonate ion makes calcification a much more difficult physiological process for the organisms to accomplish."
No, not more difficult. It takes slightly longer. In fact if you read the damn paper, you'll see they're puzzle why the corals grow anyway, regardless of their simplistic understanding of the matter.
"Not BS. Basic marine chemistry.
The presentation of the chemistry is faulty and the whole "corals are in serious trouble" claim is BS.
Re: Once all the components of the system are included, there is no net change in CO32-, because the increase in CO2 causes an increase in dissolution.
" Not in surface waters."
What do you mean, not in surface waters? Coral grows in shallow water on a lime bed, in and around sources of Ca, so it will dissolve locally, as I said.
"Surface seawater is currently 6x supersaturated with respect to CaCO3. Acidification drastically lowers the supersaturation state, making calcification much more difficult, without causing any significant dissolution aspects to kick in.
Nonsense. The words "drastic" and "much more difficult" don't apply, and the corals agree.
More later.
The only thing I read that could compensate is the dissolution of high-magnesium calcite once the saturation state for that phase has switched from super- to understaturation. Otherwise I don't grasp your point, you may wish to restate.
No, not more difficult. It takes slightly longer. In fact if you read the damn paper, you'll see they're puzzle why the corals grow anyway,
They noted that there was a possible detection of decreased calcification as well as reasons that it may not have been detected yet. With further acidification, the situation becomes more difficult for calcifiers. They would be working with less of a saturation gradient.
Once all the components of the system are included, there is no net change in CO32-, because the increase in CO2 causes an increase in dissolution.
I didn't get this until I read it a few times. No net change in CO32- in the reef environment?
What do you mean, not in surface waters?
The effects of acidification will be most acute in surface waters. Most of the carbonates that can compensate are in deep waters. What I don't think is clear is whether dissolution in the reef environment will compensate for the reduced CO32- in the surrounding ocean waters. I think you're asserting that it will. That would depend in part on reef water - open ocean circulation.
The words "drastic" and "much more difficult" don't apply, and the corals agree
What do you think of this paper?
The sensitivity of corals, coccolithophoids and foraminifera to carbonate ion concentration (PDF)
I'm not sure the corals are as optimistic as you are.