Could artificial ocean alkalinization protect tropical coral ecosystems from ocean acidification?
نویسنده
چکیده
Artificial ocean alkalinization (AOA) is investigated as amethod tomitigate local ocean acidification and protect tropical coral ecosystems during a 21st century highCO2 emission scenario. Employing an Earth systemmodel of intermediate complexity, our implementation of AOA in theGreat Barrier Reef, Caribbean Sea and SouthChina Sea regions, shows that alkalinization has the potential to counteract expected 21st century local acidification in regard to both oceanic surface aragonite saturationΩ and surface pCO2. Beyond preventing local acidification, regional AOA, however, results in locally elevated aragonite oversaturation and pCO2 decline. A notable consequence of stopping regional AOA is a rapid shift back to the acidified conditions of the target regions.We conclude that AOAmay be amethod that could help to keep regional coral ecosystemswithin saturation states and pCO2 values close to present-day values even in a high-emission scenario and therebymight ‘buy some time’ against the ocean acidification threat, even though regional AOAdoes not significantly mitigate thewarming threat.
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