Chapter six - Waleska Reyes

Chapter six opens up with the description of an island in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea named Castello Aragonese. Kolbert explains that this island was created due to the pushing up of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. Kolbert visits Castello in order to investigate the CO2 levels in the water surrounding the island. Kolbert is taken scuba diving and shown green bubbles rising from the vents at the floor of the sea. Kolbert notices there is minimal sea life surrounding that area. Kolbert explains the changes humans have caused the environment. For example the cutting down of trees and increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. Kolbert is then shown many animals that have been rescued from the ocean. Kolbert notes that the vents that emit CO2 into the ocean are endangering the survival of many sea life. The CO2 in the ocean will lead to ocean acidification. Ocean acidification can wipe out ecosystems. Therefore CO2 emissions into the ocean can be deadly for marine life. My question is what are the alternatives to stopping CO2 emissions into the ocean? I connected this chapter with the theme humans alter natural systems. In this chapter we can see humans altering the oceanic life's natural systems.