British explorers trek to arctic
Three British explorers set out on a skiing expedition on Monday
across 500 kilometers of floating sea ice to investigate rising acid
levels in the Arctic Ocean that threaten marine life.
The team led by polar explorer Ann Daniels headed northward from a
remote staging area in Canada’s far north to collect data and samples
for the Catlin Arctic Survey, an international scientific mission.
Over the next two months, they are to haul sledges weighing up to 120
kilograms over pressure ridges and rubble fields, and swim across leads
of open water, as wind chills push temperatures down to minus 75 Celsius
Eventually, they will meet up with other scientists who will fly ahead
to an “ice base.”
Results from the expedition will be made available to scientists in
Europe, Canada and the United States.
“The expedition focus is on ocean acidification which some scientists
describe as the Earth’s ‘other carbon dioxide problem,’” said Daniels in
a statement.
Although most international attention has focused on the effects of
carbon dioxide emissions in pushing up temperatures, scientists believe
dangerous levels of ocean acidity are a problem that also needs
exploring.
But there is scare research on its effects.
This expedition is believed to be the first of its kind.
Some scientists believe that, based on current projections, the
world’s oceans’ pH could reach levels by 2050 not seen for 20 million
years.
And if this occurs it may become corrosive to shelled organisms such
as lobsters, crabs and oysters. Rising acid levels in sea water reduces
the availability of the carbonate mineral used by many marine organisms
to form their shells.
Carbon dioxide is absorbed into cold water more easily than warmer
seas, making the Arctic Ocean particularly vulnerable.
In 2009, survey director Pen Hadow led a mission to map out thinning
Arctic sea ice as part of a larger study of global warming.
AFP |