17 August 2004
University Professor to lead investigation on rising acidity in oceans
Professor John Raven of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee has just been
appointed chair of the Royal Society's working group on ocean acidification. The task of the working
group is to assess the available evidence on the extent of acidification in oceans and its impact on
marine life.
The Royal Society, the UK's academy of science is launching the working group and study because of
concerns that the world's oceans are becoming increasingly acidic, due to pollution from the greenhouse
gas carbon dioxide.
Oceans 'mop up' carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and this, in turn, increases the acidity of the water.
Rising levels of the gas from the unmanaged burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal may be
exacerbating this. Professor Raven will contribute his specialist skills on how photosynthetic organisms
acquire carbon to the working group's investigation.
Currently, the impact of this rising ocean acidity on marine life is largely unknown. However, there are
fears that it could particularly affect corals and sea creatures with hard shells. This is because
acidification seems to decrease the availability of calcium carbonate from the water - which these
creatures use to produce their hard skeletons. Increased acidity may also directly affect the growth and
reproduction rates of fish, as well as affecting the plankton populations which they rely on for food,
and have potentially disastrous consequences for marine food webs.
Professor Raven, a Principal Investigator in the Division of Environmental and Applied Biology said: "Our
oceans may be doubly besieged. The same pollution that we believe is heating the world's oceans through
global warming is also altering their chemical balance. This study will look at what impact increased
acidity levels might have on marine life and re-emphasise the urgent need to respond to the spectre of
climate change, an issue identified by the UK Government as a priority for its Presidency of G8 in 2005."
Notes to editors
The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660,
the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency.
It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. The Society's objectives are to:
strengthen UK science by providing support to excellent individuals
fund excellent research to push back the frontiers of knowledge
attract and retain the best scientists
ensure the UK engages with the best science around the world
support science communication and education; and communicate and encourage dialogue with the public
provide the best independent advice nationally and internationally
promote scholarship and encourage research into the history of science
By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk | 
