[Coral-List] CO2 Experiment.

[John Ware]

Hello List,

There is a recent publication by Jason Spencer-Hall et al. which 
described the effect of elevated CO2 on a coral reef (Nature 454:96-99). 
 They studied a site at which volcanic CO2 was naturally emitted from 
the subtrate.  The paper reminded me of a thought I had 10 or 12 years 
ago when I first visited the island of Dominica in the Caribbean.  There 
is a dive site called "Champagne" from the gas bubbles emanating from 
the substrate.  I wondered then if the gas could be CO2 and whether a 
natural experiment was in progress.

However, I never followed up on my thought.  So here is my question:

Have any of you ever sampled and determined what the gas is that is 
bubbling up at Champagne?

Follow up question: I know nothing about determining gas composition. 
 Is it difficult to test a sample for CO2 content?

John

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