<div><a href="http://www.uidahoblogs.com/science/">http://www.uidahoblogs.com/science/</a></div>
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<div>The commentary at the Vandal Science blog at website above, with mention of CO2 as a pollutant, and an EPA ruling on this issue, is from Tom Williams, Ph.D., in the College of Science. While I do not disagree with his description of CO2's role in the biosphere and CO2's significant impact on atmospheric temperature, I was a bit surprised that given his explicit wording regarding CO2 as a "pollutant," that he did not mention, unless I missed it, the impact of CO2 on acidification of the oceans. </div>
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<div>The hundreds of billions of tons of CO2 humanity has dumped into the atmosphere is increasing the acidity of the oceans (which are doing humanity a great service by removing much of our CO2 emissions), and is predicted to have serious negative impacts on marine organisms that are impaired with increasing acidity. In fact, as the published science articles referenced below indicate, the impacts of CO2 as a "pollutant" increasing ocean acidity impacting marine life may already be occurring. This environmental problem can damage ecosystems in the oceans in ways that can have wide ranging consequences. This problem alone is enough reason to lower CO2 emissions, even if anthropogenic warming were not occurring; and some of the geo-engineering solutions to climate change (blocking solar radiation with sulfur compounds injected into the upper atmosphere, mimicking the cooling effect of volcanic eruptions), though they can cool the climate, will not solve the problem of CO2 emissions increasing ocean acidity.</div>
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<div>NOAA article on results of study of ocean acidification:</div>
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<h2>International Scientists Find ‘Acidified’ Water on the Continental Shelf from Canada to Mexico </h2></div>
<div><a href="http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080522_oceanacid.html">http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080522_oceanacid.html</a></div>
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<div>"<span class="" id="st" name="st">Acidification</span> of the Earth's <span class="" id="st" name="st">ocean</span> water could have far-reaching impacts on the health of our near-shore environment, and on the sustainability of ecosystems that support human populations through nourishment and jobs," said Richard W. Spinrad, NOAA assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric research. </div>
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<p>“Our findings represent the first evidence that a large section of the North American continental shelf is seasonally impacted by ocean acidification,” said Feely. “This means that ocean acidification may be seriously impacting marine life on our continental shelf right now.” </p>
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<div>The findings will be published May 22 in the online journal <em>Science Express</em>. “Evidence for Upwelling of Corrosive ‘Acidified’ Water onto the Continental Shelf” was written by Richard A. Feely and Christopher Sabine,</div>
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<div>Science journal article on ocean acidification:</div>
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<h2>Coral Reefs Under Rapid Climate Change and Ocean Acidification</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/318/5857/1737">http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/318/5857/1737</a></p></div>
<div>Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is expected to exceed<sup> </sup>500 parts per million and global temperatures to rise by at<sup> </sup>least 2°C by 2050 to 2100, values that significantly exceed<sup> </sup>those of at least the past 420,000 years during which most extant<sup> </sup>marine organisms evolved. </div>
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<div>Under conditions expected in the 21st century, global warming and <span class="" id="st" name="st">ocean</span> <span class="" id="st" name="st">acidification</span> will compromise carbonate accretion, with corals becoming increasingly rare on reef systems. The result will be less diverse reef communities and carbonate reef structures that fail to be maintained. Climate change also exacerbates local stresses from declining water quality and overexploitation of key species, driving reefs increasingly toward the tipping point for functional collapse. This review presents future scenarios for coral reefs that predict increasingly serious consequences for reef-associated fisheries, tourism, coastal protection, and people.</div>
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<div>Tom Williams wrote on Vandal Science blog:</div>
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<div>"The EPA recently declared that CO<sub>2</sub> in the atmospheric was a threat to human health.<span> </span>Essentially defining it as a pollutant (which has big economic and health ramifications)."</div>
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<div>Tom Williams' U of I staff info:</div>
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<div><a href="http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/home/staff.htm">http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/home/staff.htm</a></div>
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<p class="main">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u>Materials Characterization Laboratory</u></b> operates the Scanning Electron Microcopy [SEM/EDS], powder x-ray diffraction [XRD] and ICP-AES facilities for the COS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These facilities are available to the college and the entire UI campus on user-fee basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Tom’s primary duties are the operation and management of instruments and their support facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Tom also trains faculty and students to operate instruments, in sample preparation techniques, and assists in interpretation of data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
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<p class="main"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett</span></p></div>