Ocean Currents lectures begin June 22 at UD Lewes

The University of Delaware will kick off its 2023 Ocean Currents lecture series at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 22, in Room 104 of the Cannon Lab on its Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes.

Wei-Jun Cai, associate dean for research and the Mary A.S. Lighthipe Chair of Earth, Ocean and Environment, will give the first talk of the season, focusing on oxygen, carbon dioxide and ocean acidification in two quite different large estuaries, the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware Bay.

Sponsored by UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, the Ocean Currents lectures are free and open to the public, featuring approximately one-hour, in-depth presentations on the interesting, impactful work and research done by faculty and staff.

Cai said attendees will learn how the Chesapeake Bay experiences serious instances of summer hypoxia and anoxia — which are low oxygen rates and zero oxygen rates, respectively — leading to a buildup of high carbon dioxide in bottom waters.

“This biologically produced carbon dioxide, when combined with the increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, leads to even more serious acidification of the bay’s bottom water,” said Cai. “The good news is that the Chesapeake Bay’s bottom water is buffered by calcium carbonate solids that are produced in shallow-water vegetation areas and transported to the deep water.”

The Delaware Bay, on the other hand, is relatively well-mixed; it experiences acidification from both increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and sewage treatment effluents.

“During my talk, I will compare our latest data with that from the 1980s to showcase changes in the Delaware Bay and emphasize the impact of these factors on the bay’s ecosystem,” said Cai. “It is a great opportunity to learn more about the effect of estuarine oxygen, carbon dioxide and ocean acidification in two different and large estuaries.”

The next Ocean Currents lecture will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 20, and focus on Atlantic sturgeon movement patterns on a coastal scale.

For more information and to register, go to ud.alumniq.com/index.cfm/events:register/home/eventId/8560.