Potential impact of global warming on whiting in a semi-enclosed gulf

In this article, the potential impact of the rising atmospheric CO2 level on whiting in the semi-enclosed Arabian Gulf is considered. Chemical equilibrium models were developed to assess the spatial and temporal distributions of aragonite and calcite saturation indices (Omega(Aragonite) and Omega(Calcite)) due to acidification resulting from increasing atmospheric CO2 level. The models accounted for the spatial and temporal distributions of salinity and temperature in the surface water of the gulf, which vary in the range of 36-43 psu and 15 degrees C to 32 degrees C. The spatial variations of CaCO3 saturation revealed that the southern part of the gulf along the coastlines of the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain experiences the highest CaCO3 saturation levels and corresponds to the observed whiting phenomenon. Potential acidification and erosion of the whiting phenomenon in the gulf threaten the ecosystem, which deserves significant additional attention from the scientific community and decision makers in the region.