Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Ocean acidity off California coast is decimating marine life

    Waters off the California Coast are acidifying twice as fast as the global average, and humans are to blame. That’s according to a new study . Greenhouse gas emissions are heading toward record highs .

    • rss
    • apple-podcasts
    • spotify
    • Share
    By Madeleine Brand • Dec 17, 2019 • 1 min read

    Waters off the California Coast are acidifying twice as fast as the global average, and humans are to blame. That’s according to a new study. Greenhouse gas emissions are heading toward record highs. When carbon dioxide mixes with seawater, acid levels go up, and ocean critters can’t build strong enough shells and vegetation dies. Unhealthy ocean water off the west coast means some of the country’s most valuable fisheries are at risk.

    The full episode

    2 of 5
    Rachel Rossi on why she should become LA District Attorney
    1. 0:00Oakland homeless camp resembles a developing country's slum
    2. 12:05Ocean acidity off California coast is decimating marine lifeYou’re reading this
    3. 17:12Former public defender Rachel Rossi wants to become LA District Attorney
    4. 29:33How to be an adult: UC Berkeley undergrads teach new class
    5. 36:03Hallmark Channel struggles to diversify
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Amy Ta

      Digital News & Culture Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Rosanna Xia

      LA Times reporter

      NewsEnvironmentCalifornia

    The full episode

    2 of 5
    Rachel Rossi on why she should become LA District Attorney
    1. 0:00Oakland homeless camp resembles a developing country's slum
    2. 12:05Ocean acidity off California coast is decimating marine lifeYou’re reading this
    3. 17:12Former public defender Rachel Rossi wants to become LA District Attorney
    4. 29:33How to be an adult: UC Berkeley undergrads teach new class
    5. 36:03Hallmark Channel struggles to diversify
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand