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Ocean Acidification Increases the Agony of the Baltic

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Ocean Acidification Increases the Agony of the Baltic NO.1, MARCH 2021 Improved air quality could save 200,000 lives per year Reducing urban air pollution in 31 Eu- ropean countries to below the WHO recommended levels could prevent more than 50,000 deaths per year. ► Page 6 EU Clean Air Outlook The annual health benefits the additio- nal measures needed to achieve the 2030 national emissions ceilings are estimated at €12–43 billion, up to 31 times higher than the estimated costs. ► Page 8 © LARS-ERIK HÅKANSSON LARS-ERIK © Renewables have reduced environmental pressures in EU A new study shows that the increase in renewable electricity has reduced the Ocean acidification increases EU’s climate change impact. ► Page 10 the agony of the Baltic Sea Air pollution and Covid-19 Because of low alkalinity and high primary production, the Policies that protect the population from daily fluctuation of pH in the surface water is already high, the effects of air pollution are also likely and ocean acidification is projected to increase this varia- to protect against Covid-19 deaths pos- tion further. sibly attributable to air pollution. ► Page 15 The ever-increasing carbon dioxide at early life stages. While OA can have (CO₂) concentrations in the atmosphere negative effects on some species, others Net zero air travel? result in global warming. Yet a signifi- may benefit from it. Possible benefiters Climate-positive ham- cant share of the CO₂ is also taken up include macroalgae due to improved burgers? by surface oceans. This buffering effect carbon availability mitigates climate change, but at the OA is controlled by alkalinity – the Carbon offsetting under the CDM pro- cost of causing ocean acidification OA( ), buffering capacity – of the water. The duces extraordinary claims. Don’t believe or shifts in the acid-base equilibria of higher the alkalinity of the water, the them, says the Swedish broadsheet Da- seawater. OA means that the pH of the smaller the changes in pH when CO₂ gens Nyheter. ► Page 18 ocean is decreasing. dissolves in it, and the lower the alkalinity, This is bad news for marine organisms. the larger the changes in pH. Phasing out fossil gas The reduced calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) The Baltic Sea is considered to be saturation state impairs calcification rates especially vulnerable to OA because its power stations in Europe of plants and animals that use carbon- alkalinity is considerably lower than that by 2030 ate to build their shells and skeletons. of the oceans, although total alkalinity Presenting a list of gas-fired power stations OA can also induce other physiological of the surface water has increased over in the EU and the UK that should be clo- maintenance costs, which can in particu- recent decades. The change in alkalinity has sed within the next 10 years. lar be reflected in growth and survival been highest in the low-saline northern ► Page 24 Page 3 A newsletter from the Air Pollution & Climate Editorial Secretariat, the primary aim of which is to Marine areas around provide information on air pollution and its the world face to continue, at the expense of marine effects on health and the environment. dramatic changes related to the release of animals and plants already at the limit greenhouse gases. Some of these changes of their salinity tolerance levels. Anyone interested in these matters is invited to contact the Secretariat. All requests for — such as marine heat waves already There is also an unfortunate interplay information or material will be dealt with to proven devastating to coral reefs — are between eutrophication and salinity, the best of our ability. Acid News is available directly related to the temperature regimes namely oxygen depletion. In short, the free of charge. experienced by the organisms. In addition, water column in parts of the Baltic Sea In order to fulfil the purpose of Acid News, there is a whole list of other changes that is permanently stratified into a deeper, we need information from everywhere, so if occur concurrently. more saline, layer, and a surface layer of you have read or heard about something that These changes are not, however, the same less saline water. As oxygen from the sur- might be of general interest, please write or send a copy to: in all marine waters, nor are their effects face cannot penetrate to the deeper layer, on ecosystems. Coastal areas and regional oxygen will eventually be depleted from Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat seas, for instance, often have their own this layer. The rate at which the oxygen Första Långgatan 18, 413 28 Göteborg, Sweden unique characteristics that will shape the is depleted is dependent on the amount Tel: +46 31 711 45 15 way they respond of organic matter, E-mail: [email protected] to climate change. “Climate operates which increases Internet: www.airclim.org The “baseline” of on different with increasing environmental eutrophication. In Editor: Marko Reinikainen baselines in Assistant editors: Christer Ågren & pressures upon addition to this Reinhold Pape which climate- marine regions” salinity-dependent Layout: Karin Didring change-related stratification, shal- effects operate also lower waters also Printed by Trydells Tryckeri, Laholm, Sweden. differs between regions. become stratified in summer, due to ISSN 0281-5087. The Baltic Sea provides an example temperature-dependent stratification. of the importance of regional ecosystem Unfortunately, increased stratification The Air Pollution and Climate Secretariat The Secretariat has a board consisting of one properties in shaping responses to the is one of the projected changes related representative from each of the following effects of climate change. These variations to climate change. In addition, the on- organisations: Friends of the Earth Sweden, in responses apply to the Baltic Sea in going warming of the Baltic Sea is in Nature and Youth Sweden, the Swedish So- comparison with other seas, but also to itself bad news for oxygen conditions, ciety for Nature Conservation, and the World local differences within the Baltic Sea. In as less oxygen can be bound at higher Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Sweden. The essential aim of the Secretariat is to the front-page article of this issue of Acid temperatures, and oxygen consumption promote awareness of the problems associ- News, Anu Vehmaa highlights acidification increases. ated with air pollution and climate change, in the Baltic Sea, and describes the unique The consideration of regional or local and thus, in part as a result of public pressure, characteristics of its buffering system, as conditions does not prevent universal to bring about the needed reductions in the well as aspects of geographic variation in approaches to protect the marine en- emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse the buffering system. The importance of vironment from the effects of climate gases. The aim is to have those emissions eventually brought down to levels that man variable photosynthetic activity, which change. The obvious approach is im- and the environment can tolerate without can seasonally be extremely high, is also mediate mitigation of greenhouse gases. suffering damage. discussed in relation to its implications Other measures include protection and In furtherance of these aims, the Secretariat: for pH dynamics. restoration of biodiversity for increased 8 Keeps up observation of political trends There are several other examples of resilience. However, continued, regionally and scientific developments. 8 Acts as an information centre, primarily for environmental changes that are charac- adopted measures are needed to mitigate European environmentalist organisations, teristic of the Baltic Sea. Eutrophication other, interacting, stressors, such as eu- but also for the media, authorities, and is the most notorious one. Eutrophica- trophication in the Baltic Sea. researchers. tion is evidently not caused by climate 8 Produces information material. change, but by excess nutrients from e.g. Marko Reinikainen 8 Supports environmentalist bodies in other unsustainable agriculture practices and countries in their work towards common Further reading: Baltic Sea Environment Pro- ends. burning of fossil fuels. However, due ceedings No. 137 (HELCOM; https://www.helcom. 8 Participates in the advocacy and campaigning to increased precipitation and warmer fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BSEP137.pdf), activities of European environmentalist orga- winters, the eutrophication problem will https://www.smhi.se/en/research/research-news/ nisations concerning European policy relating get worse unless efforts to cut nutrients climate-change-makes-reducing-eutrophication- to air quality and climate change, as well as in are successful. In the wake of increased even-more-important-1.162273, and https://www. meetings of the Convention on Long-range bsag.fi/en/baltic-sea/climate-change/ Transboundary Air Pollution and the UN precipitation, an ongoing freshening Framework Convention on Climate Change. (decrease in salinity) is also predicted 2 ACID NEWS NO. 1, MARCH 2021 From page 1 parts, with the effect decreasing gradually the magnitude and direction of the fu- to maintain most of its calcification as salinity increases towards the south. ture pH trends is the atmospheric CO₂ activity by shifting it into the daytime, So far, the increase in alkalinity has bal- concentration. when the photosynthetic activity of the anced a notable share of the CO₂-induced Information on the effect of OA on bladderwrack increases the mean pH of acidification. Nevertheless, researchers the Baltic Sea organisms is slowly ac- the habitat. Studies using the mussel warn that the increasing alkalinity should cumulating. Most studies have been done population from the Kiel Fjord suggest not be interpreted as protection against at the species level, although evidence that the Baltic Sea blue mussels might future OA. on community responses has begun to have adaptation potential against the In the Baltic Sea, OA is yet another appear in recent years. In the coastal effects of OA because fluctuating envi- encumbrance among a long list of burdens, zone, the species studied include blad- ronments facilitate the maintenance of eutrophication still being the largest.
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