Ocean Acidification: Earth's Destructive Climate Change
Currently, our planet is going through a series of significant climate events that is potentially leaving an impact. Global warming has been at the center of creating destructive climate change. By increasing the amounts of greenhouse gases, humans are creating an environment with hotter temperatures, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels. To add on, scientists are now worried that humans are potentially destroying the oceans by creating an acidic environment in the water. The acidic environment may be destroying life. The theory is an increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the oceans maybe causing harm to several different sea organisms from huge coral reefs to microscopic plankton. Without human interaction, our oceans may be put into jeopardy. This could potentially leave the planet with catastrophic irreversible damage that will last for thousands
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of years.
However, critics have become skeptical of ocean acidification. Many skeptics doubt the seriousness of ocean acidification, the impact of ocean acidification on sea life, and the science used to study Ocean Acidification. In addition, many of these skeptics also doubt the severity of global climate change and the impact of humans on the environment. Currently, the issue of ocean acidification has left many in the scientific community worried about the potential disasters that lie ahead, yet skeptics argue that these worries are being overhyped and that the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the oceans are not dangerous to sea life and to the planet
To begin, Ocean Acidification is a complex issue that revolves around the pH level of the water in the oceans. According to Ocean Acidification by Gattuso and Lina “Ocean Acidification is a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period, typically decades or longer, caused primarily by the uptake of CO 2 from the atmosphere” Scientists use the pH scale to describe the strength of acids
and bases. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 0 being the most acidic and 14 the most basic. Gattuso and Lina address that, “Once dissolved in seawater, CO 2 is a weak acid, which generates a number of changes in seawater chemistry.” They also state,“The ocean pH levels has decreased from approximately 8.2 to 8.1 between pre-industrial time and the 1990s, and may reach 7.8 in 2100.” The issue of Ocean Acidification is dependent on the pH levels of the oceans. The belief is lowered pH levels could have disastrous effects for the millions organisms in the sea. Scientists believe that a difference in pH levels could devastate the ecology of the oceans. For example, it is stated by Gattuso & Lina that, “Changes in the carbonate chemistry of seawater can have a wide range of effects, some of which may be mediated through disturbances in the acid–base status of affected organisms.” As a result, “The extracellular pH of body fluids in animals and the intracellular pH of various organisms are usually tightly regulated, but the capacity of regulatory mechanisms can be overwhelmed.” These disturbances caused by Ocean Acidification could potentially cause havoc on sea life by disrupting important processes like photosynthesis. Lastly, the authors of Ocean Acidification state, “The increase in CO2 with increasing ocean acidification could, therefore, have significant effects on photosynthesis causing disruption in the chemistry of organisms.” These reasons provide examples why Ocean Acidification is an important issue.
of years.
However, critics have become skeptical of ocean acidification. Many skeptics doubt the seriousness of ocean acidification, the impact of ocean acidification on sea life, and the science used to study Ocean Acidification. In addition, many of these skeptics also doubt the severity of global climate change and the impact of humans on the environment. Currently, the issue of ocean acidification has left many in the scientific community worried about the potential disasters that lie ahead, yet skeptics argue that these worries are being overhyped and that the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the oceans are not dangerous to sea life and to the planet
To begin, Ocean Acidification is a complex issue that revolves around the pH level of the water in the oceans. According to Ocean Acidification by Gattuso and Lina “Ocean Acidification is a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period, typically decades or longer, caused primarily by the uptake of CO 2 from the atmosphere” Scientists use the pH scale to describe the strength of acids
and bases. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 0 being the most acidic and 14 the most basic. Gattuso and Lina address that, “Once dissolved in seawater, CO 2 is a weak acid, which generates a number of changes in seawater chemistry.” They also state,“The ocean pH levels has decreased from approximately 8.2 to 8.1 between pre-industrial time and the 1990s, and may reach 7.8 in 2100.” The issue of Ocean Acidification is dependent on the pH levels of the oceans. The belief is lowered pH levels could have disastrous effects for the millions organisms in the sea. Scientists believe that a difference in pH levels could devastate the ecology of the oceans. For example, it is stated by Gattuso & Lina that, “Changes in the carbonate chemistry of seawater can have a wide range of effects, some of which may be mediated through disturbances in the acid–base status of affected organisms.” As a result, “The extracellular pH of body fluids in animals and the intracellular pH of various organisms are usually tightly regulated, but the capacity of regulatory mechanisms can be overwhelmed.” These disturbances caused by Ocean Acidification could potentially cause havoc on sea life by disrupting important processes like photosynthesis. Lastly, the authors of Ocean Acidification state, “The increase in CO2 with increasing ocean acidification could, therefore, have significant effects on photosynthesis causing disruption in the chemistry of organisms.” These reasons provide examples why Ocean Acidification is an important issue.