Ocean Acidity up 30%

Jane Lubchenco — Obama's terrific choice for administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — discussed the threat to the ocean from global warming in a long interview on NPR's Diane Rehm show yesterday (mostly in the second 20 minute segment). You can catch it here.

This BBC story explains:

Man-made pollution is raising ocean acidity at least 10 times faster than previously thought, a study says.

"When CO2 levels in the atmosphere reach about 500 parts per million, you put calcification out of business in the oceans." (Atmospheric CO2 levels are presently 385 ppm, up from 305 in 1960.)

If we want to save life in the oceans — and save ourselves, since we depend on that life — the time to start slashing carbon dioxide emissions is now.