My blog is going to focus upon the fairly recent phenomenon of Ocean Acidification which is increasing as the rate of Carbon dioxide emissions accelerate with an ever globalising world. The blog shall focus upon the science of acidification, its effects upon the ocean ecosystem and the subsequent effects on humans, and possible solutions to the problem including a look into the pros and cons of Iron enrichment of the oceans. Where possible, the blog shall also draw upon palaeoecological studies to reveal the level of acidification in the oceans in the past compared to the present, thereby highlighting the urgency of the problem today.
The tile of my blog ‘The Acid Test’ is taken from the title of a documentary made by the Natural Resources Defence Council and it is with this documentary that I shall start my blog. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver, the documentary gives a simplified but concise overview of the basic issues surrounding the subject, in order to introduce it to the general public. It focuses mainly upon the effects it has upon marine creatures abilities to construct shells, and how this then affects the rest of the ecosystem, linking it expertly to human food supply. In the 2nd half it goes on to offer a message of hope and looks at simple but effective ways to ameliorate the problem, with the main message that we must reduce the emissions we make on the planet. This message is overly simplistic however truthful and in terms of introducing the issue to the public it hits the spot. However it is clear from the basics offered from the documentary that greater scientific scope exists to the problem.
Having said that it does a good job to inform the public, it appears that not all people have been convinced by it, but being Fox News, I probably shouldn’t really expect anything else. Sigourney Weaver keeps her cool remarkably well though.
