Detrimental Effects Of Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification is a term that describes significant changes to the chemistry of the ocean. It happens when carbon dioxide gas is absorbed by the ocean and reacts with seawater to produce acid. This mechanism is happening in the ocean that over time will affect the coral species.

The article of “ocean acidification” has been written by Elizabeth Kolbert for the magazine of National Geographic. In this magazine article, the author has expressed grave concerns regarding the increasing problem of acidification of oceans. The author is of the view that the issue of ocean acidification should be taken very seriously as this problem is irreversible and, if it occurs, it cannot be controlled.

obal Warming is caused by the built up of carbon dioxide and other air pollutions. These absorb sunlight and solar radiation, trapping the heat which causes global temperatures to rise. Ocean Acidification is caused when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the air causing it to be acidic. Scientist believe that the ocean has absorbed about half of the excess carbon dioxide in the past 200 years. This has caused a drop of 0.1 in ph. Since the pH scale is logarithmic, this change represents a thirty percent increase in acidity.

Ocean acidification means an ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth’s oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Around 30-40% of the CO2 released by humans into the atmosphere dissolves into oceans, rivers and lakes.

The effects of climate change on land are easily visible, with events like droughts and melting polar ice, for example, drawing considerable public attention. But out in the oceans, which cover over 70% of the globe, it seems that climate change effects are, for the most part, out of sight and out of mind. Our oceans contain between 50% and 80% of all the life forms on earth, and losing them would completely change the face of our planet, even if it wasn’t easily visible, at first.

Weather has often changed through of planet history due to changes associated to the solar activity, but since the Industrial Revolution, human action plays an indisputable role in this process. From the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, oceans have absorbed around 30% of the CO2 emissions, resulting in too big consequences to chemical composition of sea water, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Acidification is one of the different CO2 emissions consequences that, at the same time, has accelerated weather changes. Recently, scientists have shown that burning oil, coal or gas, change quickly ocean basic chemistry, which makes the water to become more acid. Every day there is more evidence that acidification affects marine life around the

To begin, Ocean Acidification is a complex issue that revolves around the pH level of the water in the oceans. According to Ocean Acidification by Gattuso and Lina “Ocean Acidification is a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period, typically decades or longer, caused primarily by the uptake of CO 2 from the atmosphere” Scientists use the pH scale to describe the strength of acids and bases. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 0 being the most acidic and 14 the most basic. Gattuso and Lina address that, “Once dissolved in seawater, CO 2 is a weak acid which generates a number of changes in seawater chemistry.” Furthermore they state,“The ocean pH levels has decreased from approximately 8.2 to 8.1 between pre-industrial time and the 1990s, and may reach 7.8 in 2100.” The issue of Ocean Acidification is dependent on the pH levels of the oceans. The belief is lowered pH levels could cause disastrous effects to the millions of different types of sea life in the oceans. Scientists believe that a difference in pH levels could devastate the ecology of the oceans. For example, it is stated by Gattuso & Lina that, “Changes in the carbonate chemistry of seawater can have a wide range of effects, some of which may be mediated through disturbances in the acid–base status of affected organisms.” As a result, “The extracellular pH of body fluids in animals and the intracellular pH of various organisms are usually tightly regulated, but the capacity of regulatory

ocean’s eco-system that we wouldn’t be forced to adjust to prosper in a safe and effective way of survival. An organization once stated that, “the air that you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, the products that keep you warm, safe, informed, and entertained — all can come from or be transported by the ocean, you hurt it is, its just going to hurt you back,” (Protect Plant Ocean). That quote relates back to this, ocean acidification is a socio- ecological system that will have to carry out the repercussions of being universal, evidently supported and complex. It is a wicked problem that will be hard to turn around and what our society is doing is we are learning how to deal with the effects by having the ability to survive without

The world we live in is so vast and exciting. Seventy percent of our world is liquid water we call the ocean. In the ocean there are many creatures that each are unique in their own way. However, it is possible that in our lifetime, many marine organisms will become endangered or possibly extinct. The loss of these mejestic marine creatures will be caused mainly because of human advancements in which fossil fuels are used to produce energy. Biodiversity is greatly affected by this increase in acidity. As the ocean acidifies, multiple social and economic issues arise. As humans, we rely on the ocean for almost everything. Much of our food, clothing, cleaning products and cosmetics come from the ocean. With the loss of

The rising carbon dioxide (CO2) from the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities continues to affect our atmosphere, resulting in global warming and climate change. This carbon dioxide is also altering the chemistry of the oceans, causing them to become more acidic. From scientists and marine resource managers, to policy and decision-makers, there is growing concern that the process called ocean acidification could have drastic consequences on marine ecosystems. Such as altering species composition, disrupting marine food webs and ecosystems and harming fishing, tourism and other human activities connected to the sea.

Ocean acidification has recently become a big problem. Coral reefs and fish are dying, causing local economies to lose up to $375 billion every year from lack of tourism and fishing profits (Worland). Ocean acidification is caused mainly by carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. The carbon dioxide “reacts with water molecules to form carbonic acid,” thus increasing the acidity (Stone). “The ocean currently absorbs about a third of human-created CO2 emissions, roughly 22 million tons a day,” according to National Geographic. We’ve already “disposed” of 530 tons billion tons of carbon dioxide into the ocean. Because of this scientists are now studying the ocean and have thought of two possible ways to reduce acidity - geoengineering and cutting carbon emissions.

Our Oceans are a vital bloodline carrying humans, water, and different types of animals and plants. Now more than ever our oceans are in peril due to the disastrous effects of Ocean Acidification. According to, NOAA Director Dr. Jane Lubchenco (2016), “Ocean Acidification is often referred to as global warming’s equally evil twin” (The Osprey pg.1). Ocean Acidification is an issue that the general public knows very little about yet is just as dangerous. Our Oceans are like a gigantic beaker with a mix of different solutions but because of ocean acidification this might disturb the balance for the planet. According to, Ludwig of The Science Teacher (2015), “OA is a harmful consequence of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and poses a threat to marine life” (p.42). The high amount of carbon dioxide creates a toxic environment for sea life. As a society, it is our duty to help restore our oceans and prevent the dangerous possibility of massive sea loss, economic downfall, and coral bleaching.

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, when humans began burning fossil fuel in large quantities, the world’s ocean water has gradually become more acidic even though this problem have only been noticed in the last decade. “Enough fossil fuels have been burned to emit more than 500 billion tons of Carbon Dioxide.” (National Geographic 2014) Of those 500 billion tons, 30% of the carbon dioxide dissolved into the oceans based on a research project that collected more than 77,000 seawater samples around the world. While this process might be beneficial for slowing down climate change, it can lead to ocean acidification, which is another global issue that’s threatening our world.

Climate change causes an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide which dissolves in the ocean and leads to ocean acidification. One third of all the carbon dioxide that is produced due to human activities has been absorbed by the oceans since 1800 (Haw, 2013). Half of all carbon dioxide produced from the

A topic that is becoming more popular and that scientists are trying to raise awareness about is ocean acidification. In fact, “In the past 200 years alone, ocean water has become 30 percent more acidic...” (Ocean Acidification). Acidification of the ocean has been the cause of the weakening of marine life and has done nothing but negatively impact us. While 30 percent may not seem like much, over a span of 200 years, most change has happened within the last 50 years and since it is happening at such a fast rate, it doesn’t give marine life the chance to adapt.