Norwegian seas threatened by CO2

Coral reef by Snarøya. Photo: Greenpeace.org

The marine life along the Norwegian coast is threatened by CO2 emissions causing the sea water to become acidic, writes Norway Post.

This may have dire consequences for shellfish and coral reefs, because the acidity makes shells and coral reef skeletons dissolve, which in turn will have consequences for the coral reef-reliant cod.

The process of increasingly acidic sea water is happening faster in the arctic regions than anywhere else, said scientist Richard Bellerby at The Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (BCCR) in Bergen. Because cold water absorbs more CO2, the water becomes more acidic in cold areas.

BCCR is the largest climate research centre in the Nordic countries and among the leading centres in Europe. The centre has an international profile with leading expertise within climate understanding, climate modeling and scenarios for future climate changes and quantification of climate changes. BCCR offers opportunities for research, with a main focus on northern Europe and the polar regions, and is a key provider of first-rate knowledge on climate change to policy makers, industry, and the general public.

The center is named after the Norwegian physicist and meteorologist, Vilhelm Bjerknes and his son the Norwegian-American meteorologist, Jacob Bjerknes.

For more information visit: Bjerknes.uib.no