Scientists startled by direct CO2 emissions from ocean floor.
Millions of liters of carbon dioxide found bubbling up from the seabed in Italy’s picturesque Bay of Naples are creating acidic water conditions, which in turn is damaging aquatic plants and marine life. Marine biologist Dr. Jason Hall-Spencer expressed his concern that the rest of the world’s oceans could face a similar fate, stating, “Every day the oceans absorb more than 25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  If it were not for the oceans, levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would be far higher than they are today and the impact of climate change would be far worse. However, there is a downside: It is called ocean acidification.” 

We truly are grateful for your research, Dr. Hall-Spencer and colleagues, in helping us understand the magnitude of the threats we face.  We pray alarming insights such as these will propel us quickly in acting to save our precious biosphere. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/05/climatechange.italy

Iceland reports alarming rate of glacier melt.

A recent report from the nation’s Committee on Climate Change stated that Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe, is now receding at a rate of 1 meter per year. Dr. Finnur Palsson of the University of Iceland forecast that as the glacier melts, ocean waters could rise by up to seven meters. He said, “(This) means we’ll have catastrophic effects on the highly populated areas all over the globe...  (People) will have to migrate to higher places all over the world.”

Committee on Climate Change, Dr. Palsson and colleagues, we appreciate this reminder of the dire state of our planet. We pray that all of humanity awakens to this urgent condition and acts now to ensure the survival of all Earth’s inhabitants.

http://www.cctv.com/english/20081006/102761.shtml, http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Global-Warming-Threat-To-Worlds-Bigget-Glacier-Vatnajokull-In-Iceland/Article/200810115112964?lpos=World_News_Third_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=
ARTICLE_15112964_Global_Warming_Threat_To_Worlds_Bigget_Glacier%2C_Vatnajokull_In_Iceland