In addition to the famous impacts of atmospheric carbon on global warming, there is an equally worrisome effect of carbon dioxide on the oceans: ocean acidification (or OA for short). Here at I2SEA we have a series of resources about OA, including Our Acidifying Ocean, which is an introductory activity and virtual lab (note: now mobile compatible!).
A student suggested that we start a conversation topic about OA, and here it is! Have you heard about Ocean Acidification? If so, are you worried about it? How do you think we can best raise awareness about it among your fellow students and the general public? Have you seen particularly good links or films about OA that you would like to share? What are you doing to address the problem?
Ocean Acidification >
Are you worried about ocean acidification? If so, why?
I am concerned about ocean acidification because I am an animal lover and want the best for these creatures. Oysters are not the only animals that suffer from ocean acidification. All kinds of animals, from small crabs to whales. It also lowers the pH and makes it more acidic, which is not good for marine animals as their skin and shell become softer and less able to protect themselves from predators.This changes the entire food chain. We also depend on these animals for food and this is difficult for some to change. Also, you will not be able to have extinct sea pets.
I agree with your point that ocean acidification can detrimentally effect the animals that reside inside the waters, though this is accurate, humans are also in grave danger. As you mentioned, humans rely heavily on the ocean as there food source, believe it or not, 3.5 billion humans across the globe depend on the ocean as there primary food source. In just 200 years, our oceans have became 30% more acid then before, if this continues, a collapse of the food chain is imminent in our future. It is important to look at our past to grasp the severity of the issue we are fighting today. 251 million years ago, our planet experienced its largest mass extinction, the great dying. 96% of all marine species, and 70 of terrestrial species were killed off. The leading cause of this mass extinction stemmed from the introduction of large quantities of CO2 into our environment, subsequently causing detrimental ocean acidification and loss of almost all life on the earth. Evidently, we are currently living through a period of time which is mimicking the causes of this horrific event through human intervention. Action has to be taken before the we are engulfed by the earths 6 mass extinction.
I am worried about ocean acidification. I believe over time it will destroy our oceans and make some animals go extinct. It will also affect the food chain and create an imbalance in everything because if those species go extinct the animals that feeds on those animals will no longer have food and decrease that species as well. It would be a very big problem.