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Square_Tea4916 t1_j5fjp6y wrote

Interesting how it's less acidic in the middle. Wonder what it would look like with a Shipping Route Overlay.

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mydriase OP t1_j5fkf3i wrote

So the logic behind this map, as far as I know it, is that, from a purely chemical point of view, cold water is more acidic since the amount of CO2 that can dissolve into water is inversely proportional to the temperature.

So, this would mean cold water becoming warmer,because of climate change, should be less acidic. But then, in reality, more biological processes take place in warmer waters. These processes releases CO2 and acids. So water ends up getting more acidic

This degree of change is exacerbated by the fact polar waters are warming up much faster than the others on earth

That’s why it’s bright yellow, others who didn’t change so much are likely to not have warmed so much (or other reasons I don’t know)

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Significant-Return21 t1_j5fol6k wrote

Those darker regions along coasts and equator reflect upwelling where cold water is transported to the surface.

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mydriase OP t1_j5fp6kk wrote

Thanks. I thought upwelling was bringing water along the coasts of Peru / Chile and Nambia ? Is it also happening in the middle of nowhere ?

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mydriase OP t1_j5fleyf wrote

Also, I’ll add some patterns across oceans are currents, like you see in the northern Atlantic Ocean. The cold waters on the east coast of Canada are colder than those coming from warmer regions, so they get this sped up acidification effect…!

Also, it doesn’t show on the map so well but coastal waters tend to have a higher pH because of human activity and river discharge (bringing waste waters)

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Square_Tea4916 t1_j5fny1o wrote

Thanks, this is awesome! I was kind of shocked seeing the water near the Panama Canal wasn't as acidic. Maybe it does have more to do with current patterns.

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mydriase OP t1_j5fob8m wrote

The data resolution is very coarse so maybe it is very acidic locally (I haven’t read anything about ship lines and acidity though !) and the data doesn’t allow us to see it …

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MagicJava t1_j5iis8y wrote

The middle could be more acidic and we wouldn’t know from this map. Just shows the change

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