Ocean Acidification Effects
Ocean acidification is caused by CO2 in the atmosphere when it reacts with water it creates carbonic acid. It's a significant and harmful consequence of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that we don't see or feel because its effects are happening underwater. When carbon dioxide is absorbed by seawater a chemical reaction occurs that reduces the seawaters pH, carbonate ion concentration, and saturation states of biologically significant calcium carbonate minerals. It decreases the pH of seawater, meaning it increases the seawater’s acidity. Over the past 250 years, ocean acidity has increased by 30 percent. At least one-quarter of the carbon dioxide CO2 released by burning coal, oil and gas doesn't stay in the air, but instead dissolves
…show more content…
Ocean acidification impacts marine organisms to varying gradations. For example, photosynthetic algae and seagrasses may benefit from higher CO2 conditions as they require CO2 to live much like plants on land. On the contrary, studies have shown that a more acidic environment has a negative effect on calcifying species, such as oysters, clams, sea urchins, corals, calcareous plankton and many more. When shelled organisms are at risk, the entire food web is also at risk. Currently, over a billion people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as their primary source of protein. Many jobs and economies throughout the world depend on the fish and shellfish in our …show more content…
In recent years, there have been failures of developing oysters in both aquaculture facilities and natural ecosystems on the West Coast. Over the last decade, there has been much focus in the ocean science community on studying the potential impacts of ocean acidification. It is too early to predict exactly how ocean acidification impacts will cascade throughout the marine food chain and affect the overall structure of marine ecosystems. With the current rate of ocean acidification accelerating, scientists, resource managers, and policymakers recognize the urgent need to strengthen the science as a basis for sound decision making and action. Researchers predict that the dissolving of coral reefs due to our changing the ocean’s chemistry may lead to their extinction in 50
Ocean acidification impacts marine organisms to varying gradations. For example, photosynthetic algae and seagrasses may benefit from higher CO2 conditions as they require CO2 to live much like plants on land. On the contrary, studies have shown that a more acidic environment has a negative effect on calcifying species, such as oysters, clams, sea urchins, corals, calcareous plankton and many more. When shelled organisms are at risk, the entire food web is also at risk. Currently, over a billion people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as their primary source of protein. Many jobs and economies throughout the world depend on the fish and shellfish in our …show more content…
In recent years, there have been failures of developing oysters in both aquaculture facilities and natural ecosystems on the West Coast. Over the last decade, there has been much focus in the ocean science community on studying the potential impacts of ocean acidification. It is too early to predict exactly how ocean acidification impacts will cascade throughout the marine food chain and affect the overall structure of marine ecosystems. With the current rate of ocean acidification accelerating, scientists, resource managers, and policymakers recognize the urgent need to strengthen the science as a basis for sound decision making and action. Researchers predict that the dissolving of coral reefs due to our changing the ocean’s chemistry may lead to their extinction in 50