Nestled among the beautiful coral reefs of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a place that could provide the key to our understanding of one of the biggest threats to coral reef survival: Ocean Acidification. Here cool carbon dioxide naturally bubbles out of volcanic cracks in the shallow sea floor and makes the surrounding waters more acidic. This place gives us a glimpse into the future as absorbed atmospheric CO2 makes the ocean more acidic. Smithsonian scientist, Laetitia Plaisance, uses this unique place to study what will happen to corals and coral reefs if the ocean gets more acidic. Read the full blog post from Dr. Plaisance to learn more about acidification and these amazing CO2 seeps.
slideshow
Will Coral Reefs Survive Acidification?
Carbon Dioxide Volcanic Seep
Credit: Laetitia PlaisanceIn Ili Ili Bua Bua, Normanby Island, Papua New Guinea, CO2 bubbles out of intense volcanic vents in the reef. The excess carbon dioxide dissolves into the surrounding seawater, making water more acidic—as we would expect to see in the future due to the burning of fossil fuels. The town's name, Ili Ili Bua Bua, means "Water Water Bubble Bubble" in the local dialect. Read more about how reef scientist Laetitia Plaisance uses carbon dioxide seeps to study ocean acidification.
MV Chertain Lab Boat
Credit: Laetitia PlaisanceFor three weeks, the research ship MV Chertan is home-base for the scientific team and will be transformed in a floating laboratory to study volcanic CO2 seeps. Read more about how reef scientist Laetitia Plaisance uses carbon dioxide seeps to study ocean acidification.
A Healthy Coral Reef
Credit: Laetitia PlaisanceFar away from the volcanic CO2 seeps, a healthy coral reef flourishes with a diversity of coral species. Closer to the seeps where the water is acidic, the corals barely even grow. Read more about how reef scientist Laetitia Plaisance uses carbon dioxide seeps to study ocean acidification.
Monoculture of Boulder Corals
Credit: Laetitia PlaisanceClose to the volcanic CO2 seeps, the vast diversity of corals that exists in less-acidic waters is replaced by a "monoculture" of boulder corals. These are less fragile and better suited to life in acidic water. Read more about how reef scientist Laetitia Plaisance uses carbon dioxide seeps to study ocean acidification.
Fragile Branching Corals in Acidic Water
Credit: Laetitia PlaisanceBranching corals, because of their more fragile structure, struggle to survive in acidified waters that surround the volcanic CO2 seeps of Papua New Guinea. Read more about how reef scientist Laetitia Plaisance uses carbon dioxide seeps to study ocean acidification.
Lonely Seagrass in Acidic Waters
Credit: Laetitia PlaisanceClosest to the seeps, where the pH is lowest and the water is most acidic, corals no longer grow. Instead there are sand, rubble and seagrasses that are able to survive.
Read more about how reef scientist Laetitia Plaisance uses carbon dioxide seeps to study ocean acidification and how it will affect biodiversity on coral reefs in the future.
Dissolving Shell
Credit: Laetitia PlaisanceThe acidic waters from CO2 seeps can dissolve shells and also make it harder for shells to grow in the first place.
Read more about how reef scientist Laetitia Plaisance uses carbon dioxide seeps to study ocean acidification and how it will affect biodiversity on coral reefs in the future.
Dissolving Coral Skeleton in Acidic Waters
Credit: Laetitia PlaisanceNear the intense volcanic CO2 vents bubbling from the cracks in the seafloor, the water is so acidic that it dissolves coral skeletons.
Read more about how reef scientist Laetitia Plaisance uses carbon dioxide seeps to study ocean acidification and how it will affect biodiversity on coral reefs in the future.