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 >
Coral and Ocean Acidification
As we continue to polute our atmosphere with more carbon dioxide. Our ocean continue to collect more carbon dioxide causing it to slowly rise in ph. With the pH levels rising the oceans are becoming more acidic. The increasing acidification of the water creates coral bleaching as I experienced when I went to Portugal. When I went to Portugal I went to Port Douglas and from there I took a boat to the coral reef. The reef wasn't like many of the older pictures, this is because the ocean is continuously being filled with carbon dioxide and is continuing to acidify bleaching the coral making it colorless. In an ocean acidification article by the Australian Institute of Marine Science it says that in the next century the ph in our oceans will lower by about 1.2. All these things point to show that soon our ocean will be to acidic to even be in so it shows that we need to change something.