Permalink: https://media.greenpeace.org/archive/Sea-Butterfly-in-Lab-at-Ny-Alesund-27MZIFIXLYDP.htmlConceptually similarSea Butterfly in Lab at Ny-ÅlesundGP022T3Completed★★★★Sea Butterfly in Lab at Ny-ÅlesundGP022T2Completed★★★★Research Base in SvalbardGP022O0Completed★★★★Sea Butterfly in Lab at Ny-ÅlesundGP022SRCompleted★★★★MY Esperanza in SvalbardGP022SVCompleted★★★★★★Taking Water Samples in SvalbardGP024BZCompleted★★★★MY Esperanza in SvalbardGP022SUCompleted★★★★★★Scientists and Mesocosms in SvalbardGP0233CCompleted★★★★★★Mesocosms in SvalbardGP0233BCompleted★★★★View AllGP022SLSea Butterfly in Lab at Ny-ÅlesundA 'scientist's eye view' of a pteropod looking into the eyepiece of a microscope in the marine laboratory at Ny-Ålesund. The pteropod, or "sea butterfly", is a small marine animal threatened by ocean acidification. Pteropods are a fundamental part of the food web, commonly consumed by by fish, seabirds and whales. Like shellfish, corals and other mollusks, they need calcium carbonate (arogonite) to form their shells and structures. However, increased CO2 emissions from human industry are causing ocean water to trend towards acidity, which is not only reducing the capability of these species to form shells, but actually causing existing shells to dissolve. Greenpeace is currently working with scientists from the German marine research institute IFM-GEOMAR to investigate ocean acidification, by deploying nine large "mesocosms" (experiment water enclosures) in Kongsfjord, near the Arctic scientific research station of Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard.Locations:Arctic-Kongsfjorden-Norway-Ny-Ålesund-Spitsbergen-SvalbardDate:30 May, 2010Credit:© Nick Cobbing / GreenpeaceMaximum size:5616px X 3744pxKeywords:Aerial view-Climate (campaign title)-Close ups-KWCI (GPI)-Laboratories-Mollusks-Ocean acidification-Oceans (campaign title)-Research-Samples-Sampling (activity)-Save the Arctic (campaign title)-Science-TestingShoot:Arctic Under Pressure ExpeditionThe Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza and its crew are working with scientists from the German marine research institute IFM-GEOMAR to investigate ocean acidification, with the use of nine large mesocosms, or experiment water enclosures, in Kongsfjord, near the Arctic scientific research station of Ny-Alesund in Svalbard. The mesocosms are being used to investigate future implications of ocean acidification, a phenomenon caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that has just as much potential to damage marine ecosystems as climate change. Absorption of excess CO2 pollution by seawater causes its PH level to drop, making it more difficult for creatures integral to the food web to form shells and skeletons. Commenting on the success of the experiment Professor Ulf Riebesell, leader of the project said: "The experiment was successful and we have now the largest data set in our hand for impacts of ocean acidification. What we have learned from this experiment is that ocean acidification has an impact on the base of the food web, and this has implications for the entire ecosystem." The crew also tracks and documents fishing vessels from an industry exploiting this fragile ecosystem. Greenpeace is calling for the area of the Arctic Ocean historically protected year round by sea ice to be closed to all industrial activity, including destructive fishing.Related Collections:Arctic Under Pressure Expedition - The Acid Test'Protect the Oceans' Expedition Launch Collection (Photos, Video & 30x30 Report)Arctic Frontiers Campaign ImageryOcean and Climate Report