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Enhanced acidification of global coral reefs driven by regional biogeochemical feedbacks
Author(s) -
Cyronak Tyler,
Schulz Kai G.,
Santos Isaac R.,
Eyre Bradley D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl060849
Subject(s) - ocean acidification , biogeochemical cycle , coral reef , environmental science , oceanography , reef , marine ecosystem , ecosystem , biogeochemistry , coral , pelagic zone , great barrier reef , nutrient , ecology , climate change , geology , biology
Physical uptake of anthropogenic CO 2 is the dominant driver of ocean acidification (OA) in the open ocean. Due to expected decreases in calcification and increased dissolution of CaCO 3 framework, coral reefs are thought to be highly susceptible to OA. However, biogeochemical processes can influence the p CO 2 and pH of coastal ecosystems on diel and seasonal time scales, potentially modifying the long‐term effects of increasing atmospheric CO 2 . By compiling data from the literature and removing the effects of short‐term variability, we show that the average p CO 2 of coral reefs throughout the globe has increased ~3.5‐fold faster than in the open ocean over the past 20 years. This rapid increase in p CO 2 has the potential to enhance the acidification and predicted effects of OA on coral reef ecosystems. A simple model demonstrates that potential drivers of elevated p CO 2 include additional anthropogenic disturbances beyond increasing global atmospheric CO 2 such as enhanced nutrient and organic matter inputs.