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> The real risk IMO is making the oceans acidic with all this co2. That has the potential to be really really catastrophic. This is pretty much impossible. Cat
by lazyjones 6y ago
> The real risk IMO is making the oceans acidic with all this co2. That has the potential to be really really catastrophic.
This is pretty much impossible. Catastrophic scenarios for 2100 expect pH = 7.8 (now: 8.0). pH is logarithmic and acidity would start below 7.
- Johnjonjoan 6y agoOcean acidification involves a shift towards pH-neutral conditions rather than a transition to acidic conditions.
- lazyjones 6y agoI was referring to "making the ocean acidic". If you meant to write "making the ocean more acidic", you should have done so! But then it won't sound like we're turning it into acid soup.
- Johnjonjoan 6y agoAs far as many marine organisms are concerned we are doing just that though. I said it for effect and I stand by its use. The way I see it when talking about our oceans they are systems rather than a liquid. The system has a preferred pH range and therefore can become acidic regardless of whether it's <7.
- lazyjones 6y ago> I said it for effect and I stand by its use. That's alarmism. > The system has a preferred pH range and therefore can become acidic regardless of whether it's <7. It's alkaline and will stay that way whether it sounds dramatic enough to you or not. What the preferred pH range is and how the complex system of the oceans works, we don't fully understand yet.
- Johnjonjoan 6y agoIt's hyperbole not alarmism and are you kidding? The ocean is currently acidifying at a rate 100x anything in the last 20 million years. Oceanography may be a relatively young science but we certainly know this kind of change is outside of what would be preferred.