Author Archives
Reporter, journalist and author who has owned and operated a bookstore, a pool and spa full service business, an apple farm, and is now committed to environmental issues. She has written four books: The Gathering Basket, Connection with 48 Natural Contemplations, Seek Beauty, Find Joy: a Companion Journal to Natural Contemplations; and children's book, Isu Learns to Swim.
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Pacific West Coast Acidification Rate Larger than Other Oceans
The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which reduces pH levels and concentrations of calcium carbonate, a mineral used by shellfish to calcify their shells. As more carbon is released into the atmosphere, concentrations of calcium carbonate decrease and the shells of organisms like foraminifera get thinner, a trend Osborne saw clearly in the sediment cores she examined.
“The shell thickness record instantly showed a long-term declining trend,” she said. “It was really obvious across entire record.”
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The Ocean Gasps for Air
This loss of oxygen in the ocean is significant enough to affect the planetary cycling of elements such as nitrogen and phosphorous which are, “essential for life on Earth,” Dr. Laffoley said.
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Science Shows Increased Ocean Acidification from Greenhouse Gases
As the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide continues to rise, our oceans are playing an increasingly important role in absorbing some of this excess. In fact, it was reported recently that the global ocean annually draws down about a third… Read More ›
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Ocean Climate Plan
By David Helvarg Fifteen years ago I was in Fiji on assignment for the book Feeling the Heat, a collection of dispatches from 10 journalists who traveled the world to report on the already visible effects of climate change. In… Read More ›
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Ghost Gear Remains Major Ocean Polluter
Lost and abandoned fishing gear which is deadly to marine life makes up the majority of large plastic pollution in the oceans, according to a report by Greenpeace. More than 640,000 tonnes of nets, lines, pots and traps used in… Read More ›
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Recent Data on Plastics in the Ocean
Where does our plastic accumulate in the ocean and what does that mean for the future? September 24, 2019 by Hannah Ritchie Our World in Data presents the empirical evidence on global development in entries dedicated to specific topics. … Read More ›
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Airgun Blasts Set for Alaska–Endangering Beluga Whales
Seismic blasting used in oil exploration can reach 250 decibels and be heard for miles. It can cause hearing loss, disorientation and disturb essential marine mammal behaviors such as feeding and breeding. Just over 300 Cook Inlet beluga whales are left after four more washed up dead in Cook Inlet in the past two weeks.
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Gulf of Maine Whales Disappearing
Each summer for the last two decades, Jim Parker has readied his small whale watch boat, and made a business out of ferrying tourists out into the cool blue waters of the Gulf of Maine. For years, it was… Read More ›
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Sea Otters Work for a Comeback
Since awareness is a big part of this week, we’d be missing a major otter-tunity if we didn’t take a moment to talk with you about these incredible marine mammals and the threats they’re facing in the wild. Southern sea… Read More ›
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Massive Marine Heat Wave Returns
The current expanse of warm water stretches from Alaska to Southern California to Hawaii. It appears similar to conditions five years ago when the original “blob” was first taking shape, federal scientists said, although so far, the warmer-than-normal waters extend down only about 150 feet below the surface, rather than 600 feet five years ago.
Neptune 911! 