Scientists find coastal seas acidifying shockingly fast – ScienceDaily

Report on Accelerated Ocean Acidification in Coastal Upwelling Systems

Introduction

A recent study highlights an accelerated rate of ocean acidification in specific coastal regions, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems and the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Research indicates that the interaction between rising atmospheric CO₂ and natural oceanic processes in upwelling systems is causing a more rapid decline in pH than previously anticipated. This phenomenon directly undermines progress on SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and has cascading impacts on SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by threatening global fisheries and coastal economies.

Key Findings and Analysis

Intensification of Acidification in Upwelling Zones

The study, using the California Current as a case study, reveals that coastal upwelling systems are not merely passive absorbers of atmospheric carbon. Instead, they actively intensify the acidification process. This occurs through a two-step mechanism:

1. Deep ocean water, which is naturally acidic and nutrient-rich due to the microbial breakdown of organic matter, is brought to the surface through upwelling.
2. This already-acidic water then absorbs additional anthropogenic CO₂ from the atmosphere, resulting in a compounded and accelerated drop in pH levels.

This finding is critical for SDG Target 14.3, which calls to minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification through enhanced scientific cooperation.

Historical and Predictive Data

Researchers utilized a dual approach to understand long-term trends:

• Historical Reconstruction: Analysis of boron isotope signatures in historic coral skeletons was used to reconstruct coastal acidity changes throughout the 20th century.
• Future Projection: A regional ocean model was employed to forecast how acidity is likely to evolve during the 21st century under continued CO₂ emissions.

The results confirm that acidification rates in these zones significantly exceed levels expected from atmospheric CO₂ absorption alone, demonstrating a critical interaction between natural processes and anthropogenic climate change.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 14: Life Below Water

Upwelling systems are among the most biologically productive marine regions on Earth. Accelerated acidification poses a direct threat to these ecosystems, jeopardizing marine biodiversity and the sustainable use of ocean resources. This directly challenges the core objectives of SDG 14 by threatening the health and resilience of vital marine habitats.

SDG 1, SDG 2, and SDG 8: Poverty, Hunger, and Economic Growth

The high biological productivity of upwelling regions supports major global fisheries, which are foundational to food security and economic stability for countless coastal communities. The degradation of these ecosystems threatens:

• Food Security (SDG 2): A decline in fish stocks could disrupt a primary food source for millions.
• Livelihoods and Economic Growth (SDG 1 & SDG 8): The viability of the fishing industry and related coastal economies is at risk, potentially increasing poverty and economic instability.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The report reinforces the direct link between atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and ocean health. It underscores that mitigating ocean acidification is inseparable from robust climate action. The solutions proposed for climate change, such as the transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles, are presented as the most effective measures to address the root cause of ocean acidification, thereby aligning the objectives of SDG 13 and SDG 14.

Global Scope and Recommendations

Vulnerable Regions

The phenomenon observed in the California Current is not an isolated event. Other major upwelling systems are exposed to similar risks, including:

1. The Humboldt Current (off Peru and Chile)
2. The Benguela Current (off western South Africa and Namibia)
3. The Canary Current (off Northwest Africa)

This highlights the global scale of the threat and the need for a coordinated international response.

Path Forward

To address these findings and advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the following actions are recommended:

• Enhance Scientific Cooperation (SDG 17): Initiate similar studies in other major upwelling regions to create a comprehensive global picture of acidification risks and inform targeted interventions.
• Accelerate Climate Action (SDG 13): Prioritize and implement policies aimed at drastically reducing CO₂ emissions, as this is the fundamental driver of ocean acidification.
• Support Coastal Resilience (SDG 11): Develop and fund adaptation strategies to help coastal communities and industries dependent on marine resources cope with the unavoidable impacts of environmental change.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article’s central theme is ocean acidification, a direct threat to marine life and ecosystems. It explicitly discusses how rising atmospheric CO₂ is absorbed by the ocean, leading to a “rapid drop in pH that threatens coastal industries and livelihoods.” This directly aligns with the goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article establishes a clear link between climate change and ocean acidification, stating, “As additional atmospheric CO₂ enters the air, it dissolves into the ocean more quickly than anticipated.” It identifies rising CO₂ from human activities as the primary driver and mentions solutions for climate change, such as “heat pumps and electric vehicles,” as the fix for ocean acidification, thus connecting the issue directly to climate action.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The research highlights the economic consequences of ocean acidification, noting that it “threatens coastal industries and livelihoods around the world” and poses “major risks to… the communities and economies they support.” The article emphasizes that upwelling systems are crucial for global fisheries, which are a significant source of employment and economic activity.
4. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article points out that upwelling systems “rank among the most biologically productive regions on Earth and play an essential role in supporting global fisheries.” Since fisheries are a vital source of food and protein for millions of people worldwide, any threat to their long-term stability, as discussed in the article, has direct implications for food security and the goal of ending hunger.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels. The entire study is an example of “enhanced scientific cooperation” aimed at understanding and predicting the impacts of ocean acidification, particularly in vulnerable upwelling zones.
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The article’s focus on how intensified acidification in coastal regions threatens marine ecosystems directly relates to the need to protect these environments from adverse impacts.
   • Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans… to restore fish stocks. The article underscores the importance of understanding environmental changes for the “long-term stability of fisheries,” which is a prerequisite for science-based management and sustainable harvesting.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The research published in Nature Communications serves to raise awareness and build scientific capacity to “better anticipate future change” related to climate impacts on ocean systems.
3. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. The article implicitly calls for this by showing how environmental degradation (ocean acidification) directly threatens economic pillars like fisheries, highlighting the need to protect these natural resources for sustained economic stability.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Explicit Indicators:
   • Ocean pH (acidity): The article explicitly mentions “ocean pH (acidity)” as the primary variable being measured. This directly corresponds to the official indicator for Target 14.3 (Indicator 14.3.1: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations).
   • Boron isotope signatures in coral skeletons: The researchers used this as a specific method to “reconstruct changes in coastal acidity over the 20th century.” This serves as a tangible, scientific indicator for tracking historical ocean acidification.
   • Atmospheric CO₂ levels: The article identifies “additional atmospheric CO₂” as the root cause of the problem. Monitoring atmospheric CO₂ concentration is a key indicator for tracking the driver of both climate change and ocean acidification.
2. Implied Indicators:
   • Health and productivity of fisheries: The article discusses the threat to the “long-term stability of fisheries.” Therefore, an implied indicator would be the status of fish stocks and catch volumes in major upwelling systems like the California, Humboldt, Benguela, and Canary Currents. This relates to Indicator 14.4.1 (Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels).
   • Economic stability of coastal communities: The text mentions threats to “coastal industries and livelihoods” and “economies they support.” An implied indicator would be the economic performance (e.g., revenue, employment) of fishing and aquaculture industries in the affected regions.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sciencedaily.com