Japan debris on the shores of Olympic Peninsula
Excerpt from: Possible Tsunami Debris Washing Up On Northwestern Shores
Jan. 13, 2012, on kuow.fm, by Ashley Ahearn
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has modeled the movement of the tsunami debris and projects that most of it will hit the Northwest Hawaiian Islands this winter and the West coast of the US later this year and into 2013. Peter Murphy, of NOAA’s Marine Debris program says radioactivity is not a major concern.
John’s Marine Debris Hoard from EarthFix on Vimeo.
“The consensus is that the debris being radioactive is highly unlikely, based on several factors,” he says.
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A preview of ocean acidification
Acidification of waters of the Puget Sound are measuring higher than those of the nearby Pacific Ocean due to pollutants resulting from increased population pressures. A report from the coast of Mexico studies the effects of increased acidification due to submarine springs.
Excerpts from Submarine springs offer preview of ocean acidification effects on coral reefs, November 28, 2011, by Tim Stephens, UC Santa Cruz
Observations at submarine springs found along the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula are giving scientists a preview of the possible fate of coral reef ecosystems in response to ocean acidification.
The naturally low pH (a measure of acidity) in the water around the springs creates conditions similar to those that will result from the widespread acidification of surface waters that scientists expect to occur as the oceans absorb increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The researchers reported their findings in a paper published in the journal Coral Reefs (published online Nov. 20).
Report: Calcifying coral abundance near low-pH springs: implications for future ocean acidification