This afternoon I read (at least) the third recent opinion in the Times Record regarding the increase in the acidity of the Gulf of Maine and its connection to global warming. All three articles insinuate a relationship between global warming, carbon dioxide levels, and rising acid levels (lower pH) in the gulf. The three articles I read seemed to suggest that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (caused by global warming) was leading to increased carbon dioxide levels in the ocean. The authors seemed to suggest, without really saying, that Maine needs to take political steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in order to reverse lowering pH of the Gulf of Maine.

Unfortunately, some actual science was overlooked. The acid level of a liquid measures the amount of ionized hydrogen which can come from dissolved carbon dioxide, but can also come from nitrates and sulfates and phosphates and chlorates, etc., that are all products of industrialization, farming and lawn grooming. Too, the ability of a liquid (ocean) to dissolve a gas (carbon dioxide) is inverse to its temperature. That is, the warmer the liquid, the less gas is dissolved. If the acid culprit in the Gulf of Maine is dissolved carbon dioxide, then the obvious answer is to warm the water, releasing the gas and decreasing the acid level. Global warming should be welcomed as a relief to rising acid levels in the gulf. That is, of course, if carbon dioxide is the only variant. I doubt that it is. To focus on carbon dioxide at the exclusion of many other variables may be self-serving, but it is not good science. I think a lot more data and research is indicated and the research must include much more than just carbon dioxide.

Dan Konieczko
(retired science teacher)
Topsham