Ocean acidification

[Ramona]

As the climate talks are ongoing I found this in the news:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/10/ocean-acidification-epoca

I read only a bit about ocean acidification in the past. Besides all the bad news this probably spells for plankton and corals does anybody know whether pearl formation/quality is sensitive to water acidification?

 

[Caitlin]

Pearls and coral are both calcium based and they are basic rather than acid. A pearl would be affected by constant acidity- like Cleopatra's famous dinner, only not that fast

 

[Tango]

Hi Ramona,

I think the damage will be suffered by the shell rather than the pearl wich is protected by gonad tissue.

Probably before the water?s pH of the whole ocean changes much worse effects will come from FANS and other uncontrollable microorganisms due to water temperature rise.

(My first post, jajaja)

 

[Caitlin]

Great first post.
I love the Jajajas! Nice change from heh heh heh.

 

[Tango]

Thank you Caitlin.

That?s the way we use in Chile for "laugh", a less demure laugh, jajaja (and again).

 

[Caitlin]

Yes. It is pronounced hahaha just like in English.

 

[maryd]

Yes. It is pronounced hahaha just like in English.

I never knew that. I have a friend in Bogota Colombia who uses jajaja quite often and I thought it was just a friendly term not a laugh. I feel silly I never asked her before.

 

[jerin]

Alwasy something new to learn about. Welcome to the forum, Tango.

 

[jshepherd]

This explains how increasing acidity in the world's oceans inhibits shelled mollusks' ability to make their shells and, therefore, pearls.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8411135.stm

 

[purlgurl]

Welcome to the forum, Tango.

I have to ask...do you Tango?
There is a thread about pearly people & dance, you might have some fun there too. It seems quite a few people here have dance in common as well as pearls.

 

[Ramona]

Thanks Jeremy. It appears pearl farmers would provide a good early warning system for climate change.