Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

OKIsItJustMe

(21,268 posts)
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 05:49 AM Tuesday

The World's Oceans Are a 'Ticking Time Bomb,' Reaching Dangerous Acidification Levels Earlier Than Scientists Thought

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/09062025/ocean-acidification-crosses-planetary-boundaries/
The World’s Oceans Are a ‘Ticking Time Bomb,’ Reaching Dangerous Acidification Levels Earlier Than Scientists Thought
Ocean acidification has crossed “planetary boundaries” in some parts of the ocean, deepening a crisis facing the planet’s marine ecosystems.

By Georgina Gustin
June 9, 2025

A critical measure of the ocean’s health suggests that the world’s marine systems are in greater peril than scientists had previously realized and that parts of the ocean have already reached dangerous tipping points.

A study, published Monday in the journal Global Change Biology, found that ocean acidification—the process in which the world’s oceans absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, becoming more acidic—crossed a “planetary boundary” five years ago.

“A lot of people think it’s not so bad,” said Nina Bednaršek, one of the study’s authors and a senior researcher at Oregon State University. “But what we’re showing is that all of the changes that were projected, and even more so, are already happening—in all corners of the world, from the most pristine to the little corner you care about. We have not changed just one bay, we have changed the whole ocean on a global level.”

The new study, also authored by researchers at the U.K.’s Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), finds that by 2020 the world’s oceans were already very close to the “danger zone” for ocean acidity, and in some regions had already crossed into it.

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The World's Oceans Are a 'Ticking Time Bomb,' Reaching Dangerous Acidification Levels Earlier Than Scientists Thought (Original Post) OKIsItJustMe Tuesday OP
Cool - I hadn't seen a "faster than expected" headline for a while . . . . hatrack Tuesday #1
I was tempted to try to find Xemasab's graphic OKIsItJustMe Tuesday #2

hatrack

(62,661 posts)
1. Cool - I hadn't seen a "faster than expected" headline for a while . . . .
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 06:21 AM
Tuesday

I was beginning to worry.

OKIsItJustMe

(21,268 posts)
2. I was tempted to try to find Xemasab's graphic
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 10:09 AM
Tuesday

So few people would appreciate it though…

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»The World's Oceans Are a ...