LAND-OCEAN INTERACTIONS IN THE COASTAL ZONE
September `98
No. 8
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
layer has an inorganic carbon
inventory similar to the
RISING CO AND
atmosphere's and a residence
2
time somewhat longer. Because
MARINE
the ocean is buffered at a pH of
about 8, the dominant species of
CALCIFICATION
inorganic carbon is the
bicarbonate ion, HCO -, with only
3
minor amounts of carbonate ion
Robert W. Buddemeier
(CO =) and aqueous CO
(University of Kansas, USA;
3
2
(dissolved CO
and H CO ,
LOICZ SSC)
2
2
3
carbonic acid).
Jean-Pierre Gattuso
The surface ocean equilibrates
(Observatoire Océanologique,
rapidly with the atmosphere,
Villefranche-sur-mer, France)
however, so each new increment
of CO is reflected in a transient
Joan A. Kleypas (National Center
2
increase in surface ocean
for Atmospheric Research, USA)
carbonic acid concentration --
One of the systemic changes in
This is the eighth newsletter of
the total earth system that is most
the Land Ocean Interactions in
representative of global change is
the Coastal Zone (LOICZ)
the inexorable increase in
International Project of the
Figure 1. The effect of rising atmo-
atmospheric CO concentration.
IGBP. It is produced quarterly
spheric CO on the saturation
2
2
CO has risen from a base of 280
to provide news and
states aragonite. (Changes in ½-
2
ppmv before the industrial
information regarding LOICZ
aragonite as a function of pCO2
revolution to 370 ppmv at
and temperature for the range of
present, and is projected to reach
temperatures most often associ-
560 ppmv (2xCO ) by 2065.
ated with coral reef development,
2
These anthropogenically-forced
and the range of probable recent
changes are superimposed on a
past and future pCO values.)
2
high point in the natural CO2
cycle, and the atmospheric CO is
2
probably already higher today
than any concentration
experienced in the last several
million, and possibly tens of
millions, of years.
The carbon cycle is a major focus
of IGBP attention, and increasing
CO is extensively studied as a
2
contributor to global climate
change, as a possible `fertilizer' of
photosynthesis, and in many
other ways. One major role,
however, has received little
attention until recently -- the
effect of atmospheric CO on
2
marine biogeochemistry and
ocean ecosystems. The ocean
contains close to 90% of the
earth's "exchangeable carbon,"
but it mixes only slowly, and the
surface
page 2
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
Figure 2. Strong dependence of
both organism and community
calcification rates on saturation
state. (Summary of experimental
results (4) on calcification as a
function of saturation state for 2
tropical algae, a coral, and a
mesocosm of reef-related species.
Average rate relative to the calcu-
lated preindustrial rate was used to
estimate recent past and probable
future calcification changes.)
consistency of the signal suggest
that calcification rates of reefs and
benthic calcifying communities
have already decreased by 6-11%,
and that a doubling of CO will
2
result in a total decrease of 17 to
35%. This will be reflected in shifts
in community composition and
transient, because the inorganic of rising atmospheric CO on the
2
metabolism, and at the organism
carbon system re-equilibrates in a saturation state of aragonite is level reduced calcification potential
way represented by the equation shown in Figure 1, which illustrates may result in weaker skeletons
H CO + CO = --> 2HCO -. Thus, the dependence of ½ on the partial
2
3
3
3
(with greater vulnerability to
rising atmospheric CO results in pressure of CO over the range of
2
2
bioerosion and physical damage)
an increase in total inorganic CO concentrations from glacial
2
and/or reduced extension rates
carbon (and bicarbonate ion) in maxima to extreme anthropogenic (implying reduced ability to
the surface ocean, an increase in greenhouse conditions.
compete for benthic resources).
aqueous CO , and a significant
2
Additional support for these
decrease in carbonate ion Although there is geological predictions comes from a recent
concentration. This in turn affects evidence for saturation state statistical analysis of the
the calcium carbonate mineral control of mineral distributions and relationships among environmental
saturation states of the surface accumulations (1) and the variables and coral reef
ocean; because Ca++ saturation state dependence on biogeography (5); the findings
concentration is much larger than CO is strong, little marine
2
indicate that temperature, light, and
carbonate ion concentration and biological research has focused on saturation state all exercise a
nearly constant, it is the CO = the effects of CO , presumably
3
2
significant degree of control over
concentration that controls the ion because ½ is projected to remain
reef distribution.
activity (concentration) product > 1 in the foreseeable future, and it
[Ca++ ]*[ CO =].
is known that all or most calcifying
3
In addition to future shifts in
organisms possess active ion organism and ecosystem
If we define ½ as [Ca++]*[CO =]/ transport and concentration
3
dominance or survival, the findings
K , where K is the product of mechanisms that enable them to
sp
sp
suggest important considerations
concentrations that result in precipitate minerals in an for research into paleo-
neither precipitation not undersaturated environment.
environments and the functioning
dissolution of calcium carbonate,
of the carbon cycle. It is common
then ½ < 1 reflects an Recent LOICZ-supported to interpret past variations in
undersaturated (dissolution- investiga-
organism or mineral abundances in
promoting) condition; and ½ > 1 tions into coral reef responses to terms of organic productivity and
represents supersaturation global change (2) have revealled temperature. Recognition that
(conducive to precipitation). At the importance of saturation state carbonate accumulation rates,
present the world's surface responses in these ecosystems, indicator fossil abundances, or
oceans are all supersaturated with which produce predominately the organic/inorganic burial ratios can
respect to calcite, the least more soluble carbonate minerals. be affected directly by the marine
soluble mineral form of calcium Both research (3) and review of the chemical consequences for
carbonate. Aragonite literature (4) have shown a strong calcification of atmospheric CO2
supersaturation is greatest in the dependence of both organism and concentration changes may help to
tropics and diminishes toward the community calcification rates on resolve uncertainties and apparent
poles, and high-magnesium saturation state (Figure 2). contradictions, and to develop
calcite (the most soluble form) is Although the data base is limited more useful hypotheses
strongly supersaturated only in and the mechanisms are not fully concerning feedbacks in the carbon
lower-latitude waters. The effect understood, the strength and and carbonate cycles.
page 3
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
This perspective on the saturation-
state mediated role of CO change
HAVE YOU SEEN......
2
in the ocean opens a variety of new
avenues for research and integra-
tion. It is the first finding of a direct World Delta Symposium (August
negative biotic effect of rising CO2 1998) An overview of the 8 major
on a major ecosystem, it provides global deltaic systems discussed at
an altered perspective on the future the Symposium is in the Journal &
of shallow-water and coastal ma- Coastal Research 14 (3); 695-915
rine ecosystems, especially in trop- 1998
ical and subtropical waters, and on
a broader basis it raises significant Internet Mangrove & Coral Reef
questions about paleo- Homepage at:
environmental interpretations and http://ibm590.aims.gov.au
carbon cycle models based on sed-
imentary and fossil evidence.
Sea Level Processing Software
for IBM PC's. University of Hawaii
LOICZ Liaison Officer
Sea Level Centre, with National
REFERENCES
Oceanographic Data Centre have Maarten Scheffers has been ap-
(1)Opdyke, B. N., and B. H.
prepared a software purchase for pointed as the Liaison Officer be-
Wilkinson. 1993. Carbonate min- Sea Level Data Processing de- tween LOICZ and the Coastal
eral saturation state and cratonic
signed for IBM PC (DOS). It is Zone Management Centre (CZMC)
limestone accumulation. American "command line" mode, not Win- of the Netherlands. The CZMC is
Journal of Science 293: 217-234.
dows. Contact Patrick Caldwell located at the National Institute for
(UHSLC) at caldwell@soest.
Coastal and Marine Management
(2) SCOR Working Group 104 --
hawaii.edu
(RIKZ) of the Ministry of Transport,
Coral Reef Responses to Global
Public Works and Water Manage-
Change: The Role of Adaptation.
Coral Reefs and Global Change: ment. Maarten will be a member of
Co-sponsored by LOICZ.
Adaption, Acclimation, or Ex- the staff of the International Project
tinction? Abstracts and titles of Office and will split his time
(3) Gattuso, J.-P. , M. Frankig-
the meeting (Boston, January between The Hague (CZMC) and
noulle, I. Bourge, S. Romaine, and 1998) published in American Zool- Texel, based in The Hague.
R. W. Buddemeier. 1998. Effect
ogist 37 (5) 1998.
of calcium carbonate saturation of
Maarten was born in Eindhoven in
seawater on coral calcification.
About the Global Carbon & Nu- the Netherlands and has an MSc in
Global and Planetary Change 18:
37-46.
trient issues. Two recent and Top- Physical Oceanography from
ical publications in Science 281 Utrecht University. Practical expe-
(4) Gattuso, J. P., D. Allemand,
(5374) 10 July 1998 - Chemistry & rience includes involvement in a
and M. Frankignoulle. Interactions Biology of the Oceans: T.D. Jick- large project with sea research
between the carbon and carbonate ells (pp. 217-222) - "Nutrient bio- was gained during a large the
cycles at organism and community geochemistry of the coastal zone", North Sea project and a term as
levels on coral reefs: a review of
and C.M. Duarte & S. Agusti (pp. oceanographer with the Royal
processes and control by the car-
232-236) - "The CO balance on Netherlands Navy.
2
bonate chemistry. submitted to
unproductive aquatic ecosystems". In 1991, Maarten was appointed as
American Zoologist, 1998.
LOICZ Website - Revised!!!
executive secretary of the Council
(5) Kleypas, J. A., J. W. McManus, LOICZ Website (http://www.nioz.
on Physical Oceanographic Re-
and L. A. B. Meez. 1999. Envi-
nl/loicz/) has been revised and search in the North Sea (RvO). He
ronmental limits to coral reef de-
repackaged. We continue to was also a senior policy officer of a
velopment: where do we draw the
evolve its content, emphasising collaborative structure on Policy
line? American Zoologist 39: (in
science information.
Linked Ecological Research
(BEON) in the Netherlands. This
press)
work gave him experience in the
Contributions of biochemical
LOICZ
budgets are strongly encour-
transfer of knowledge between re-
aged.
search, policy and management.
4th Open Science Meeting
Databases for LOICZ Typol-
To be held in Bahía Blanca,
ogy developments and direc-
Maarten's major task will be to
Argentina in the period 8-
tion to other coastal zone sci-
further the application of LOICZ
19 November 1999. The
entific information is posted.
science, in particular linking envi-
ronmental and socio-economic re-
first announcement and
LOICZ position papers on key
circular will be included in
issues are being developed
search in an international frame-
and will be posted soon.
work.
the next Newsletter and
Your use, comments and con-
posted to the LOICZ Web-
tributions are welcome.
page 4
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LOICZ CALENDAR
OTHER MEETINGS
Workshop: River Basins and
LOICZ Executive Committee
Second Annual Scientific
Meeting, 25-26 September
ELOISE Conference 30th
the Coastal Region
1998, Texel, Netherlands.
September - 3rd October
Focus 1 and Focus 4 are
1998, Huelva, Spain.
organising a workshop on river
Australasian Estuaries Bio-
basins and the coastal regions.
geochemical Budgets
JGOFS International
The workshop is hosted by the
Workshop, 12-14 October
Scientific Symposium,
Institute for Environmental
1998, Canberra, Australia.
Biogeochemistry of the
Studies in Amsterdam and is
Arabian Sea: Synthesis and
planned for November 11-12,
Modelling, 18-20 January
Advanced Typology Work-
1998. The workshop aims to make
shop, 16-18 October 1998,
1999, Bangalore, India.
an inventory of European
Honolulu, Hawaii.
research dealing with the
Conference on Marine
interactions between river basins
Environment, the Past,
and coastal regions and explore
European River Basins and
possibilities for integrated
the Coastal Regions Work-
Present and Future, 26-28
research programs. The socio-
shop, 11-12 November 1998,
January 1999, Kaohsiung,
economic dimension of materials
Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Taiwan.
flow to the coastal region and the
1999 Open Meeting of the
integration of natural- and socio-
START/IOC/LOICZ Work-
economic models will be
shop: Climate changes and
Human Dimensions of
emphasised. Workshops for other
coastal processes in
Global Environmental
regions are planned.
West-Africa. 23-25 Novem-
Change Research
Please contact Wim Salomons
ber 1998, Cotonou, Repub-
Community, 24-26 June,
(wim.salomons@gkss.de) or
lic of Benin.
Kanagawa, Japan.
Kerry Turner
(r.k.turner@uea.ac.uk) for further
SARCS/WOTRO/LOICZ
IPO STAFF
details.
Workshop, 7-12 December
1998, Suratthani, Thailand.
Land Ocean Interaction Study
The UK-based LOIS program
Mexican & Central Ameri-
CHRIS CROSSLAND
(1992-8) has been quantifying
can Coastal Lagoons Bio-
Executive Officer
flux, tansformation and effects of
geochemical Budgets
HARTWIG KREMER
materials (sediments, nutrients,
Workshop, 12-16 January
Deputy Executive Officer
contaminants) from freshwater to
1999, Merida, Mexico.
CYNTHIA PATTIRUHU,
coastal seas. While the main
Office Administrator
program is completed, the
LUCC Data Expert Meeting
MILDRED JOURDAN,
Integrated Modelling initiatives
on Coastal Zones of South-
Secretary
are continuing, addressing the
ern India (LUCC-DIS, in col-
land-ocean interface under a
laboration with LOICZ), 7-9
MAARTEN SCHEFFERS
range of environmental scenarios.
April 1999, Goa, India.
Liaison Officer
A series of CD-ROM is in
progress, with the overview
2nd IGBP Congress and
already released. For publication
SSC9 Meeting, 6-13 May
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
information visit the LOIS
1999, Yokohama, Japan.
PLEASE CONTACT:
homepage: http://www.npm.ac.uk/
pml/loisa
LOICZ 4th Open Science
Meeting, 8-19 November
LOICZ INTERNATIONAL PROJECT
1999, Bahía Blanca, Ar-
OFFICE
AVAILABLE - GRATIS -
gentina.
NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE FOR SEA
LOICZ REPORTS &
RESEARCH
PUBLICATIONS
South American Estuaries
PO BOX 59
Modelling Workshop,
LOICZ IPO has a wide holding
November 1999, Bahía
1790 AB DEN BURG - TEXEL
of scientific reports and science/
Blanca, Argentina.
THE NETHERLANDS
implementation plans. Details
are on the LOICZ Website.
IGBP Open Science Millen-
PHONE: 31-222 369404
Do you want copies for informa-
nium Conference,
FAX:
31-222 369430
tion or for use as teaching aids
April or May 2001,
(e.g. LOICZ Modelling Guide-
E-MAIL: LOICZ@NIOZ.NL
(proposed) Washington,
lines)? Copies are freely
avail-
USA.
WWW HOME PAGE: HTTP://
able from LOICZ IPO.
WWW.NIOZ.NL/LOICZ/