During the expedition, scientists will study the impact of the changing chemistry on marine organisms and ecosystems, on the cycling of carbon and nutrients in the sea and on how the sea interacts with the atmosphere to influence climate.
Parallel investigations
Firstly, the researchers will look at how ecosystems vary between locations where the chemistry of seawater is naturally more acidic and those where it is more alkaline. This approach will provide insights on how acidification may affect organisms living in their natural environment, where natural selection and adaptation have had time to play out.
A second approach is experimental, using tanks of natural seawater collected from the upper ocean and brought into controlled conditions on deck. This natural seawater will be subjected to various levels of carbon dioxide that are likely to occur in the future.
Dr Geraint Tarling, a British Antarctic Survey Researcher and the leader of this expedition says:“ This is the most comprehensive investigation into the response of the Southern Ocean ecosystem to ocean acidification yet mounted. The investigative team encompasses some of the most experienced marine researchers from the UK. The team will not only look at how different parts of the ecosystem respond in isolation, but also see how effects interact to produce an ecosystem-level response. The work on this expedition will build on recent evidence of ocean acidification dissolving the shells of marine snails, known as pteropods, in the Southern Ocean that was recently published in Nature Geoscience(* for reference, please see notes).
Professor Toby Tyrrell from the National Oceanography Centre and coordinator of the UKOA Sea Surface Consortium added:“ Another reason for visiting the Southern Ocean is that it is also an unusually stable environment, with surprisingly little seasonal variation. The sea remains extremely cold even in summer. As the local organisms are not exposed to much natural variation, they could be more susceptible to human-induced variations. It is important for us to find out whether this supposition is correct.”
. /.
3