Ocean Acidification

“The acidification of the ocean today is bigger and faster than anything geologists can find in the fossil record over the past 65 million years” (Carl Zimmer). This is just an illustration regarding the tales of environmental degradation from carbon dioxide pollution in the ocean. The phenomenon of ocean acidification is imperative to understand; the reduction of essential pH levels over a protracted period of time is extremely harmful. In other words, ocean acidification can be measured by pH units, but for humans, it will be more impacting to measure in dollar signs. The socioeconomic byproduct of ocean acidification affects the way we feed ourselves, tourism revenue, commercial/ recreational fishing, and other potential losses. Ocean acidification
is a serious impediment to marine life and our own kind; this decrease in pH is detrimental to entire ecosystems and its inhabitants. Certain aspects of the negative effects include a hindrance to the developmental processes of deep sea life and key resources we rely on. Our connection with the ocean is undeniable and it is important to recognize the link humans have to keeping the ocean healthy. According to National Geographic Society, ocean acidification is sometimes called “climate change’s equally evil twin,” but the effects have gone unnoticed due to the consequences transpiring under the ocean’s surface. That is until scientists have recently discovered it is not in our best interest that carbon dioxide resides in the ocean instead of in the atmosphere. Ocean Scientists for Informed Policy states that, “We’re dumping the equivalent of a train car of coal – about 100 U.S. tons – into the ocean every second.” Absorbing excessive quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) in sea water sparks a chain of chemical reactions. These reactions cause coral reefs to deteriorate and lessen the calcium carbonate minerals that saturate ocean waters where life congregates. It’s a simple chemistry really, all you need to understand is when carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it lowers the pH. This then causes damage to carbonate ions (the building blocks of organisms) in return, making them less abundant – corals and shelled organisms are the most directly affected by this. The reaction looks like this: CO2 + H2O + CO2-3 -> 2 HCO3. Far reaching implications arise from these chemical reactions and human emissions are the leading cause of this cycle imbalance. The two leading origins of this influx in CO2 are fossil fuel emissions and deforestation. A further source of CO2 is called Eutrophication. Nitrogen and other phosphorus based chemicals released into waters lower the concentration of oxygen in a reaction called Hypoxia. “Our study revealed how the atmospheric CO2 and the plants respiration-derived CO2 have a synergistic effect on the acidity of these coastal waters…” (Professor Cai). Since the Industrial Revolution, the amount of climate change related issues have risen exponentially, especially ocean acidification. Subsequently, most people are aware of the pollution and environmental issues but ocean acidifications is a new concept many people aren’t familiar with.
The shellfish and oysters we consume are already being negatively impacted and their survival is vital to us. Many oyster hatcheries and farmers along with shellfish farms have begun to see changes in developmental states and problems in survival rates. People do not realize that even though they seem small, they play a significant part to our society. Hundreds of millions of people rely fully on reefs and their inhabitants but decreasing pH levels are a major threat. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the first-sale value of ocean fisheries worldwide was more than $91 billion; aquaculture of marine organisms generated another $79 billion. These statistics depend on the location, ocean acidification isn't uniform, meaning that the effects diversify. Many species of fish, including commercially caught fish, use mollusks as their prime source of energy. With the slow extinction of shelled organisms, the economy provided by the ocean ecosystem will be immediately impacted; costing more than $1 trillion annually by
2100.

Further evaluation completed by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) states that we have experienced a 30% decrease in pH since the industrial revolution and projected to decrease by another 120-150% by 2100. Coral reefs exposure to acidified water will succumb to a slow death. As reported by the NOAA, more than 70% of corals will be exposed to this and the results are inimical. Coral reefs host nearly half the fish we eat and thousands of other species; this threat has a tremendous cascade effect for all marine life. Studies from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show that 19% of the world's coral reefs are gone, within 20 years we are projected to lose 15% more. The results of our own emissions are ensuing our economic decline. To lower carbon dioxide discharge

consider helping by: protecting coastal shorelines, participating in beach clean ups, recycling, driving more efficiently, and reducing the energy use at home are all ways to lower your own carbon footprint and positively change the world.
Educating audiences is crucial to improve the general public's understanding and awareness of ocean acidification, the biological responses, socioeconomic impacts, and how to adapt. There are countless organizations and programs designed to share this knowledge including various conferences and workshops. The NOAA' s Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) is one of the largest outreaches with a goal of ameliorating the understanding of ocean chemistry and its ramifications. In conclusion the effects of ocean acidification have unimaginable consequences; compromising the survival concerning hundreds of vital species, hurting our pocketbooks, shutting down fisheries and hatcheries, overall diminishing the livelihood for thousands. There are ways to help lower the amount of emissions, steps we all should take to curtail our carbon footprint. If we don't that the necessary steps needed to stop this phenomenon, we will end up in a world no one wants to live
in.