Sabine testifies before U.S. Senate May 2008

Sen. Maria Cantwell and Dr. Christopher Sabine at the Seattle Aquarium in May 2008

Cantwell-Sabine

PMEL oceanographer Christopher Sabine testified before the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and the Coast Guard of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation at the Seattle Aquarium on May 27, 2008. The subcommittee field hearing was organized to gather information on the effects of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems in Washington. Washington State Senator Maria Cantwell presided over the hearing and Washington State Representative Jay Inslee also participated.

Dr. Sabine was one of six experts asked to testify. He reported on the results of a recent research expedition to examine carbon dioxide distributions along the west coast of North America from Queen Charlotte Sound Canada to the Baja Peninsula, Mexico. They found that upwelling was bringing waters corrosive to the shells and skeletons of calcium carbonate secreting organisms such as corals, clams, oysters, mussels, sea urchins, pteropods and others up onto the continental shelf where these organisms live. This study was published in Science Express on May 22, 2008.

Other witnesses were Dr. Terrie Klinger, Associate Professor, School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington; Dr. Ed Miles, Team Leader, Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington; Mr. Brett Bishop, Owner, Little Skookum Shellfish Growers; Dr. Jeff Koenings, Director, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Mr. Kevin Ranker, San Juan County Commissioner.

To learn more about the hearing and view the archived webcast visit the web site for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The written testimony may be viewed on NOAA's Congressional Testimony page.

Testimony of Dr. Chris Sabine

For more information on the coastal acidification findings see the Seattle Time's story