Projected Ocean Acidification

This dataset shows projections of aragonite saturation in the world’s oceans from 2006-2099, described in terms of suitability for coral reefs. The aragonite saturation state (Ωarag) is commonly used to track ocean acidification because it is a measure of carbonate ion concentration, which indicates the availability of the calcium carbonate that is widely used by marine calcifiers, from lobsters to clams to starfish. Aragonite itself is the building block of stony corals that are the primary framework and habitat builders of coral reef ecosystems. Corals and other calcifiers are most likely to survive and reproduce when the aragonite saturation state is greater than 4. Saturation above 3.5 is adequate; above 3 is considered marginal, with growth difficult. When the saturation state falls below 3, these organisms are in danger. Below 1, reefs, shells, and other aragonite structures begin to dissolve entirely.

These projections are based on future greenhouse gas emission rates determined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5. The RCP 8.5 scenario presumes no decrease in greenhouse gas emission rates within the 21st century. The projections have a spatial resolution of 1 degree, and cover the entire globe, although the significance of carbonate ion concentrations outside of areas containing warm-water coral reefs is beyond the scope of this discussion.

The dataset was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) as part of their Coral Reef Watch program. It was created as a way to both incite and inform discussions about the effects of climate change on coral reefs. These may be dramatic: the predicted acidification during the 21st century would be a greater change than possibly at any time in the last 300 million years.

Coral reefs are among the most biologically rich and productive ecosystems on earth and provide valuable ecosystem benefits to millions of people in coastal areas. They are, however, widely threatened by both local threats (such as overfishing, pollution, and direct physical damage) and the global threats of ocean warming and acidification. These have already caused widespread damage to most of the world’s coral reefs, resulting in reduced areas of living coral, increased algal cover, diminished species diversity, and lower fish abundance, as well as degraded economic and social benefits to many coastal communities.

Data and Resources

This dataset has no data

Additional Info

Field	Value
Source	https://app.mapx.org/static.html?views=MX-IY4U7-Z66QZ-WF0C7&zoomToViews=true#JAAc6
Author	UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Maintainer	UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Last Updated	December 7, 2022, 08:17 (UTC)
Created	December 7, 2022, 08:17 (UTC)
GUID	MX-IY4U7-Z66QZ-WF0C7
Issued	2022-04-05 12:24:35
Language	EN
Modified	2022-05-02 18:09:37
Publisher email	info@mapx.org
Publisher name	UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Theme	Web Map
data_type	geospatial
keywords_m49	WLD
projects_description	This project was set up in the frame of the implementation of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat’s 2020/2021 work plan and budget approved by the Sixteenth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region held from July 28-30, 2021
projects_id	MX-L2W-HWZ-RIC-LM1-Y0V
projects_title	Caribbean Sea and Wider Caribbean Region
range_end_at_year	2099
range_start_at_year	2006
source_abstract	This dataset shows projections of aragonite saturation in the world’s oceans from 2006-2099, described in terms of suitability for coral reefs. The aragonite saturation state (Ωarag) is commonly used to track ocean acidification because it is a measure of carbonate ion concentration, which indicates the availability of the calcium carbonate that is widely used by marine calcifiers, from lobsters to clams to starfish. Aragonite itself is the building block of stony corals that are the primary framework and habitat builders of coral reef ecosystems. Corals and other calcifiers are most likely to survive and reproduce when the aragonite saturation state is greater than 4. Saturation above 3.5 is adequate; above 3 is considered marginal, with growth difficult. When the saturation state falls below 3, these organisms are in danger. Below 1, reefs, shells, and other aragonite structures begin to dissolve entirely. These projections are based on future greenhouse gas emission rates determined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5. The RCP 8.5 scenario presumes no decrease in greenhouse gas emission rates within the 21st century. The projections have a spatial resolution of 1 degree, and cover the entire globe, although the significance of carbonate ion concentrations outside of areas containing warm-water coral reefs is beyond the scope of this discussion. The dataset was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) as part of their Coral Reef Watch program. It was created as a way to both incite and inform discussions about the effects of climate change on coral reefs. These may be dramatic: the predicted acidification during the 21st century would be a greater change than possibly at any time in the last 300 million years. Coral reefs are among the most biologically rich and productive ecosystems on earth and provide valuable ecosystem benefits to millions of people in coastal areas. They are, however, widely threatened by both local threats (such as overfishing, pollution, and direct physical damage) and the global threats of ocean warming and acidification. These have already caused widespread damage to most of the world’s coral reefs, resulting in reduced areas of living coral, increased algal cover, diminished species diversity, and lower fish abundance, as well as degraded economic and social benefits to many coastal communities.
source_title	Projected Ocean Acidification
spatial	WLD