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?
Ever since the industrial revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by a huge amount. The ocean absorbs about 30 percent of the CO2 in the atmosphere, and because if this, levels of atmospheric CO2 increase, so do the levels in the ocean. When CO2 is absorbed by ocean water, some chemical reactions happen which makes the concentration of hydrogen ions increase. This increase makes the ocean water become more acidic and causes carbonate ions to be less abundant.
Carbonate ions are essential to sea shells and coral skeletons. These changes can harm them and non-calcifying organisms as well.
The lowered ph of the water will Erode the creatures shells.
This will greatly effect places with huge lobstering industries like the coast of Maine. The lobsters will have to move to places with colder water where the effect of ocean acidification is not as great. Ultimately the lobsterman and lobstering industries will struggle.
Boi i live in Maine and my teach talks about this constantly
This will greatly affect the ph levels of the water. This will also start to erode.
As the pH level began to decrease the animal life in the ocean will become more endangered
All life on Earth relies on the oceans, and if they go away we will be in real trouble. Oceans support a lot of economies and they provide healthy, sustainable ways of life for many people. We should be devoting more energy to saving the oceans because they are a very important part of our world.
With the ocean acidification, not only shells and coralls are at risk, also phytoplanktons are hit. The acidity melt the calcium carbonate on the plancton. Phytoplancton are the base of the ocean food chain; if they are in danger , also all the aquatic ecosystem will be! Half of the oxygen in the earth is made by these photosynthetic organisms, so they are very important for all the biological system!
What can we do to stop ocean acidification¿
I think that the ocean acidification is a huge problem. Not just for sea shells and coral skeletons, but in general for the sealife.
And I think that we don't speak enough about this topic and how we can prevent this acidication.
I must admit that I discovered that there's the problem of ocean acidification just a couple days ago.