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 >
ocean acidification
According to noaa.gov, in the two-hundred plus years since the industrial revolution, our carbon dioxide emission footprint has increased dramatically due to the burning of fossil fuels, by humans. Concurrently, our oceans pH balance has fallen 0.1 pH units. This drop can also be written as a thirty percent increase in our oceans acidity. This rise in acid makes it much harder for calcifying organisms, such as oysters and sea urchins, to survive. This is because it causes a decrease in carbonate ions which makes maintaining a strong shell much more challenging causing the organisms to be much more vulnerable and weak. Not only does this rise in acid affect all sea life, but it also affects us as humans. People who depend solely on sea life as a source of food could be in great danger of losing their only source of protein.
Sources used - https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource … dification