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. :rolleyes:

[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.