Publications by authors named "Burke Hales"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how ocean acidification (OA) combined with river inputs affects water quality and acidification in estuarine environments, particularly in Tillamook Bay, Oregon.
- Researchers collected data on carbonate chemistry and river conditions over a year to understand the influences of human development and natural processes on acidification.
- Findings reveal that while riverine acidification significantly impacts areas with more human development, emissions-driven OA is the main contributor to acidification, making local management strategies less effective in addressing these issues.
Attribution of the ocean acidification (OA) signal in estuarine carbonate system observations is necessary for quantifying the impacts of global anthropogenic emissions on water quality, and informing managers of the efficacy of potential mitigation options. We present an analysis of observational data to characterize dynamics and drivers of seasonal carbonate system variability in two seagrass habitats of Puget Sound, WA, USA, and estimate how carbon accumulations due to anthropogenic emissions interact with these drivers of carbonate chemistry to determine seasonally resolved rates of acidification in these habitats. Three independent simulations of accumulation from 1765 to 2100 were run using two previously published methods and one novel method for estimation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of rising atmospheric CO in modulating estuarine carbonate system dynamics remains poorly characterized, likely due to myriad processes driving the complex chemistry in these habitats. We reconstructed the full carbonate system of an estuarine seagrass habitat for a summer period of 2.5 months utilizing a combination of time-series observations and mechanistic modeling, and quantified the roles of aerobic metabolism, mixing, and gas exchange in the observed dynamics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * Experimental tests on Mytilus californianus larvae show that while low pH increases respiration, shell growth is primarily influenced by the availability of calcium carbonate.
- * Differences in physiological responses to carbonate variables indicate that while multiple stressors may stem from OA, early developmental impacts on shell formation are critical and can affect later growth stages.
The absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into the ocean lowers the pH of the waters. This so-called ocean acidification could have important consequences for marine ecosystems. To better understand the extent of this ocean acidification in coastal waters, we conducted hydrographic surveys along the continental shelf of western North America from central Canada to northern Mexico.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The availability of iron significantly influences biological productivity in ocean surface waters and impacts atmospheric carbon dioxide levels during glacial cycles.
- - In the Southern Ocean, where there's plenty of nitrate, phytoplankton growth from iron can vary based on silicic acid levels; high silicic acid in the south and low in the north can limit diatom growth.
- - Two experiments conducted in the Southern Ocean highlight iron's critical role in carbon uptake and its effect on atmospheric CO2 levels based on silicic acid concentrations.