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 >
What is Ocean Acidification and is it Hurting Our Sea?
Ocean acidification is the process of changing the chemistry of the ocean through the ocean absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. According to the PEML Carbon Program, Ocean acidification doesn't just make the water rich in CO2 but the CO2 taken in has man effects on the ocean. In CO2 rich water the amount of dissolved oxygen goes down and so does the pH which makes the water more acidic. For example on the US West Coast, based off of the research of PEML Carbon Program, the deep water in the ocean is starting to become more CO2 rich because the water along the coast is very high in CO2 concentration. Furthermore they tested the growth of certain animals in the ocean to see if they were affected and oysters were barley developed. Based off of my research in my science and the environment class using resources provided by my teacher, animals with calcium carbonate are very much so effected by the lowering in pH. When the water becomes more acidic then the shells made out of calcium become very hard to develop and the animal has trouble developing. This will also effect coral reefs as they are made out of calcium too. They also serve as homes for many sea creatures so by them dying these sea creatures are left vulnerable. So yes, ocean acidification is hurting our sea by lowering the pH which hurts sea creatures.
Resources:
https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/OA+Research
I would also like to point out that Ocean Acidification does not only hurt aquatic food chain or environment. If animals in our oceans begin to die off or change that could effect food chains on land and even what us humans eat. Seafood is not only eaten by sea creatures which I am sure most people know and I feel that Ocean Acidification is just as important and concerning as Global Warming., because we could be facing a food crisis and the extinction of many animals who depend on these sea animals for nutrients. We need to find a way to reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide getting into our oceans just as much as we need less Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere.