The Negative 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.

Ocean acidification is where the ocean water becomes more acidic due to the amount of carbon dioxide in the water. Humans use fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas that release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Oceans absorb about one quarter of the carbon dioxide released each year, and since the amount of carbon dioxide in the water increases, it becomes more acidic (Ocean Acidification, NOAA). More acid in the water means that it will be lower on the pH scale and will release more hydrogen ions. This is in comparison to having more base in the water, where it will be higher on the pH scale and will release more hydroxyl ions. The pH scale rates the concentration of hydrogen in water, and acidic water releases more hydrogen ions than basic water. The scale goes from zero to fourteen, where a pH of seven is neutral, a pH less than seven is acidic, and a pH greater than seven is basic. Oceans have an average pH of 8.16, but that number is predicted to decrease

Ocean Acidification is the ongoing decrease pH of the Earth's ocean, caused by the uptake of Carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

Since the beginning of industrial revolution, the pH of ocean has decreased by 0.1 unit, and this change represents approximately 30% increase in hydrogen ions. Half of this occurred in the last 30 years. Ocean acidification is expected to impact ocean species to varying degrees. High CO2 concentrations could be beneficial for photosynthetic algae and sea grasses (PMEL 2015).

Ocean acidification is the process through which acid is formed due to the burning of fossil fuels in modern industrial society and combined with ocean water. There are unwanted gas like carbon dioxide which are now a days increasing due to human activities emission in to the environment and much of the carbon dioxide is absorbed by the oceans and the combination of carbon dioxide emitted when combined with the ocean water, carbonic acid is formed and this will dissociate to form bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions reducing the PH of the ocean or changing the ocean water in to acid and this process is called ocean acidification.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that we exhale in our daily lives. Plants use carbon dioxide to create oxygen that all mammals use. However, carbon dioxide can also change the chemistry of the ocean, this is often referred to as ocean acidification. The excess carbon dissolves into oxygen in the water, producing a chemical called carbonic acid. This acid causes the ocean to become more acidic. In the eighteenth century, the pH was 8.07 which was slightly basic. Currently, the pH is around 8.01 this is about a twenty-five percent increase in acidity. (National geographic) While this slight change may not seem outrageous, it is causing multiple marine life struggles. The acid melts the shells of pteropods causing a low supply of food that would support larger fish.

In 2017, oceans are getting to be harmful acidic regent for every organisms living on the earth. Ocean is a rich and important source for most of organisms. It occupies 3/4 of the surface of earth and holds 97% of the earth’s water (Protect Planet Ocean). This huge amount of water absorbs CO2 from atmosphere and that causes ocean acidification. The acidic ocean affects on every organisms on the earth in many ways, even if you are living far from the ocean. Ocean acidification is harmful for many organisms, and it could be stopped by only one solution: reducing CO2 produce.

Ocean acidification (OA) is a global threat because 25% of carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed into the ocean and it decreases its pH value. Through the process of OA, the amount of carbon molecules taken in create an unbalance in the waters’ acidity level. The oceans’ chemistry can try to find equilibrium by joining the extra carbon molecules with those of oxygen, but there will not be copious oxygen molecules to be paired up with the carbon molecules. Turning the oceans’ water solubility more acid based rather than alkaline. Amina Khan, Science Writer for the Los Angeles Times, points out, “Today’s carbon influx isn’t nearly as massive as the one possibly triggered by Siberian Trap volcanism some 252 million years ago . . . But it is being injected into the atmosphere today at a similar rate as it was back then” (par. 9-10). Just like a million years ago the intake of a great amount of CO2 had an impact on the environment, it is also affecting us in a relatively similar proportion. Now, instead of remaining only in our atmosphere where carbon emissions are depleting our ozone layer, it is also being soaked into the ocean leading to the increase of acidity. Yet, because of how quickly this change in acidity is occurring the impact will become bigger than it has been before. Cheryl A. Logan, Psychobiologist from the University of North Carolina, informs, “Many organisms use calcium and carbonate ions from seawater to produce calcium carbonate, a compound used for skeletal

Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH levels of the Earth’s oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that goes on for a long period of time. This happens as the ocean and atmosphere interact. They interact in many ways, in exchanges of heat, salt, water and momentum. When wind blows over the ocean, energy is transferred from wind which then drives ocean currents. However, not only natural things are happening to acidify the ocean, we play a part in it too. Fossil fuels and deforestation. Climate Interpreter’s website report how are humans causing ocean acidification? (Last updated December 18th 2013) states that “Fossil fuel emissions are the gases that are spewed out of most cars, airplanes, power plants, and factories that are burning fossil fuels (coal, oil or gas). Since the industrial revolution, fossil fuel consumption has risen exponentially to create many climate change-related issues, including ocean acidification. Deforestation is a two-fold issue. Burning down forests is similar to burning fossil fuels, it emits a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Forests are important because large expanses of plant life (even in the ocean) are known to be carbon sinks, taking in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The CO2 being produced was in turn being absorbed. Deforestation not only creates more CO2, but it also destroys one of the very things that helps absorb it! Atmospheric CO2 is increasing so the ocean

How has ocean acidification affected the world over the years? Well let’s start off with what it is, ocean acidification is when the pH levels in the ocean decrease immensely over a large period, mainly due to the recent uptake of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It has not only been affecting our ecosystem for centuries but is been slowly damaging it, and us humans don’t even know about it. It has been taking away many food sources from different species due to the carbon dioxide increase in the water and has even eroded the shells of much marine life. It not only affects animals but also our human population because our food sources naturally build off the ocean. So, what happens when our food sources start to drop and our dense population begins to drop as well because of the less of food sources?

Scientists are studying its effects on marine ecosystems, and all signs show that unless we are able to control our fossil fuel emissions, the ocean’s organisms will have to adapt to their habitat's changing chemistry or die. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/oceans/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/

There are many types of sources that affect the climate change and ozone such as nitrogen oxide emissions and deforestation. Along with those two sources, is the burning of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels is leading to higher acidity in the oceans, which is a topic I do not take lightly. Many people love the ocean for various reasons, but for me, it has always been one of my favorite places due to the sense of feeling free when I am on or near the water. The oceans give oxygen to the world, regulates the climate, is a source of food, all while creating and maintaining oceanic life. Ocean acidification is the change of the potential of hydrogen or pH levels of the ocean becoming more and more acid due to the carbon dioxide that is being emitted into the atmosphere. A vast amount of the ocean comes in contact with the atmosphere, causing the carbon dioxide and water to mix making for the increase in acidity.

Ocean acidification is human caused and continues to get worse. PH ocean levels are at an all time low and we have most humans to thank for that. “We are acidifying the ocean and fundamentally changing its remarkably delicate geochemical balance,” (Rising Acidity in the Ocean...). By negatively affecting the balance, we put animals at risk of extinction. Not only do humans negatively affect animals, but it affect themselves as well. If ocean acidification continues at this rate, there won’t be any more sea life, which means there would no longer be any seafood or beautiful marine life to look at at aquariums and beaches. There is no good reason or excuse for people becoming so negligent towards the ocean.

Ocean acidification is the result of excess carbon dioxide from the air that is absorbed into the ocean. This carbon dioxide is emitted by burning fossil fuels, such as gas, coal, and oil. Scientists estimate around half of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is absorbed into the ocean. It then reacts with the saltwater and causes the formation of carbonic acid. This acid causes the release of more hydrogen ions into the seawater. The accumulation of this acid over time has caused a significant decrease in the pH of the ocean. “Since modern industry began to develop in the late 1700’s average pH in the surface oceans has declined from about 8.21 to about 8.10 in 2012. This change in pH corresponds to a 28.8 percent increase in acidity” (Funk and Wagnalls). Due to the excess man-made carbon dioxide emissions, the oceans and marine life within it are beginning suffer and will continue to have increasingly negative effects until the atmospheric carbon dioxide is decreased.

Acidification damages oceanic organisms which are currently more endangered than any other ecosystem. Two thirds of all fish depend on coastal wetlands, seagrass, and coral reefs, all of which are disappearing in vast amounts. Fifty-eight percent of coral reefs are jeopardized by human activity, and eighty percent of grasslands are suffering from soil degradation. Fishing fleets are forty percent larger than the ocean can currently sustain. All these things are caused by poisoning our lakes and rivers with fertilizers, silts, and sewage waters. Too much water is being taken from rivers that oftentimes causes our rivers to dry up before even reaching the sea. (Linden, pgs. 18-19). You can help by doing simple things such as turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth, or running the dishwasher and washer only when its full. Take shorter showers. Carry a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic bottle that goes back into our lands, littering our lands.