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Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco told The Associated Press. • "We've got sort of the perfect storm of stressors from multiple places really hammering reefs around the world," said Lubchenco, who was in Australia to speak at the International Coral Reef Symposium in the northeast city of Cairns, near the Great Barrier Reef. "It's a very serious situation." • Oceans absorb excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in acidity. Scientists are worried about how that increase will affect sea life, particularly reefs, as higher acid levels make it tough for coral skeletons to form. Lubchenco likened ocean acidification to osteoporosis -- a bone-thinning disease -- because researchers are concerned it will lead to the deterioration of reefs. • Scientists initially assumed that the carbon dioxide absorbed by the water would be sufficiently diluted as the oceans mixed shallow and deeper waters. But most of the carbon dioxide and the subsequent chemical changes are being concentrated in surface waters, Lubchenco said. • ___
After topsy-turvy 1st half, All-Stars pull into Kansas City for 1st time since 1973
• KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Much has changed since the All-Stars last pulled into town in 1973. Then again, it seems like much of baseball has been turned up (Continued on page 23)
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