Recent research reveals how fluctuations in storm season intensity can significantly influence ocean acidification (OA) conditions in the northern Strait of Georgia, located on the northeast Pacific coast. This area, characterized by weakly-buffered seawater, faced extreme OA characterized by multiple stressors, including calcite undersaturation, low pH, and elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) over three years.
The study, which utilized data from eight years of high-resolution monitoring at the long-term oceanographic station QU39, indicates stark shifts between storm seasons are pivotal for OA forecasting. The research highlights years characterized by weak storm activity, where OA conditions intensified, contrasting sharply with years of strong storms which led to healthier sea chemistry.
Researchers examined the interplay of factors leading to extreme OA, where variability in storm seasons plays a decisive role. During years with weaker storms, there was reduced conservative mixing and biogeochemical feedbacks, directly correlatively resulting in severe OA impacts. This correlation could provide predictive capacity for the coming years, illustrating the direct influence of environmental conditions on marine life vulnerability.
These findings herald alarming consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal economies reliant on resilient marine species. With rising atmospheric CO2 levels due to human activity, the study casts light on urgent intervention needs to combat not only the emissions but their cascading effects on marine environments.
Lead researcher Will Evans stated, "The emergence and abatement of corrosive conditions for calcite occurred not over extended chronologies, but rather during specific storm seasons, fundamentally reshaping the physical and biological underwater environments.” The conclusions drawn from this research underline the precarious state of the Strait of Georgia's ecology as it grapples with anthropogenic changes.
Exploring the biogeochemical indicators, the research pointed to significant increases of total dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO2), impacting the seawater's ability to buffer pH changes, highlighting how weakly-buffered settings are less resilient to both gradual and sudden changes.
Overall, this study not only documents the vulnerability of the northern Strait of Georgia but also emphasizes the immediate need for thorough monitoring and evaluation of coastal ecosystems as they adjust to changing climate conditions.