2008/05/22 by Richard A. Feely, Christopher L. Sabine, José Martín Hernández‐Ayón +2 · 8 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses #Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies #Marine Biology and Ecology Research
paper · doi:10.1126/science.1155676
openalex publication_date 2008/05/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
The absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into the ocean lowers the pH of the waters. This so-called ocean acidification could have important consequences for marine ecosystems. To better understand the extent of this ocean acidification in coastal waters, we conducted hydrographic surveys along the continental shelf of western North America from central Canada to northern Mexico. We observed seawater that is undersaturated with respect to aragonite upwelling onto large portions of the continental shelf, reaching depths of approximately 40 to 120 meters along most transect lines and all the way to the surface on one transect off northern California. Although seasonal upwelling of the undersaturated waters onto the shelf is a natural phenomenon in this region, the ocean uptake of anthropogenic CO2 has increased the areal extent of the affected area.