What do you know about ocean acidification?

“Ocean acidification will severely impair coral reef growth before the end of the century if carbon dioxide emissions continue unchecked. The paper represents the first ocean acidification experiment in which seawater was made artificially acidic by the addition of carbon dioxide and then allowed to flow across a natural coral reef community. The acidity of the seawater was increased to reflect end-of-century projections if carbon dioxide from greenhouse gas emissions are not abated.” -Carnegie Institution for Science The fear and reality of global warming, is unfortunately not the only concern we should have from our production of CO2 emissions, but also because of how much is being added to our oceans. Around fifty percent of the earths oxygen is produced from our oceans, and since the seventeen hundred’s the acidity levels have increased by thirty percent. With that, as we continue to increase the amount of CO2 the more acidic the ocean will become. Ocean acidification is a growing concern, and we need to make changes to protect the ocean, and the one billion people that depend on the ocean as a protein source.

A study was performed on the reef flats that surround One Tree Island off the coast of Australia. They made the water more acidic to represent how the ocean acidity will be one hundred years from now. "Last time, we made the seawater less acidic, like it was 100 years ago, and this time, we added carbon dioxide to the water to make it more acidic, like it could be 100 years from now," Caldeira explained. (Caldeira & Albright., 2018) Without making the necessary changes to lower our emissions will kill the life in the ocean. While absorption of CO2 is an important aspect of our ocean, too much will result in an abundance of carbonic acid. The smaller shelled creatures depend on carbonate produced in the water to produce their shells, as well as what builds the structures of our coral reefs. An abundance of Carbonic acid will not only decrease the carbonate in the ocean, but also increasing the acidity as well. Without the production of carbonates in the ocean, the shell fish will eventually die off, and the ones that are left behind will be dissolved as the acidity increases. (Gattuso, 2013)

While some may not see the importance of the shell fish, the decrease in carbonates, along with the current issue of global warming and rising tempters in the ocean. These changes in the ecosystem have caused issues such as choral bleaching, and to add a deficit of the building blocks of the reefs, they may be in trouble. The reefs are home to more than twenty five percent of marine life, and with the destruction of the eco-system due to acidification and bleaching, the ocean will soon struggle. With the loss of smaller marine life, large fish will run out of food, and the people that depend on the ocean will then starve. (Gattuso, 2013)

In conclusion, we need to change our ways and develop alternatives for CO2 emissions. If not to purify the air, or clean the ocean, but to reduce our output. We need to make the changes before it is to late, before our oceans become history, and future generations don’t have a chance. As the acidity increases, life will decrease. We are a growing population and need to protect every food source that we have, and make the changes needed so future generations do not struggle to survive.

Thank you for taking the time to dive into this quick read, and look forward to any comments from our readers!

Bibliography

Caldeira , K., & Albright., R. (2018, March 14). Coral reef experiment shows: Acidification from carbon dioxide slows growth. Retrieved from sciencedaily.: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180314145016.htm

Gattuso, K. J.‐P. (2013). Impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms: quantifying sensitivities and interaction with warming. Global Change Biology, 19(6). doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12179