"Ocean acidification is the decrease in the pH of the Earth's ocean."
The process by which the pH of the ocean is lowered due to increased carbon dioxide absorption, which can harm marine organisms.
Chemistry of the Ocean: The role of the ocean in regulating Earth's climate and chemistry is crucial and complex, and understanding the basic principles of ocean chemistry is essential when studying ocean acidification.
Carbon Cycle: The carbon cycle refers to the movement of carbon through various reservoirs of the Earth system, including the atmosphere, biosphere, oceans, and geosphere. Ocean acidification is a result of changes in the carbon cycle caused by human activities.
Effects on Marine Life: Ocean acidification has significant impacts on marine life, including changes in growth, reproduction, and survival rates of various species. Understanding how these impacts are felt down the food chain is crucial in comprehending the effects of ocean acidification.
Climate Modeling: Climate models simulate how the Earth's climate system will behave under different scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding these models is necessary to predict future changes concerning ocean acidification.
Paleoclimatology: Paleoclimate research uses natural archives such as fossils, ice cores, and sediment cores to study past climate conditions. These studies often provide insights into how the Earth's system has responded to changes such as ocean acidification in the past.
Solutions: Studying potential solutions for ocean acidification is essential to mitigating its effects. Alternative energy sources, carbon capture, and storage are some of the proposed solutions.
Economic and Policy Considerations: Economic and policy considerations such as the cost-benefit analysis of implementing climate change mitigation measures, and political situations are also critical factors when understanding the effects of ocean acidification.
Societal Impacts: Lastly, one must understand how societies across the world are impacted by ocean acidification. These impacts are often profound, reducing the availability of seafood, and in turn, the livelihoods of communities that depend on it.
Carbon dioxide absorption: When the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it releases hydrogen ions, which lowers the pH level of the water and makes it more acidic.
Methane hydrate melt: As the permafrost melts, methane hydrates trapped under the seabed can be released, leading to an increase in acidity.
Nitrogen runoff: Agricultural and industrial runoff releases nitrogen into the ocean, which leads to increased algae growth. As these algae die and decompose, they release CO2, making the water more acidic.
Acid rain: Pollution in the atmosphere can create acid rain, which falls into the ocean and makes the water more acidic.
Ocean warming: As the ocean warms, it causes a decrease in the solubility of carbonate minerals, which makes it more difficult for organisms to build shells and skeletons.
Salinity changes: Changes in the ocean's salinity can impact the ability of marine organisms to build their shells.
"Between 1950 and 2020, the average pH of the ocean surface fell from approximately 8.15 to 8.05."
"Carbon dioxide emissions from human activities are the primary cause of ocean acidification."
"CO2 from the atmosphere is absorbed by the oceans."
"This produces carbonic acid (H2CO3) which dissociates into a bicarbonate ion (HCO−3) and a hydrogen ion (H+)."
"The presence of free hydrogen ions (H+) lowers the pH of the ocean, increasing acidity."
"Marine calcifying organisms, such as mollusks and corals, are especially vulnerable."
"A change in pH by 0.1 represents a 26% increase in hydrogen ion concentration in the world's oceans."
"Colder and higher latitude waters are capable of absorbing more CO2."
"Other factors that influence the atmosphere-ocean CO2 exchange, and thus local ocean acidification, include ocean currents and upwelling zones, proximity to large continental rivers, sea ice coverage, and atmospheric exchange with nitrogen and sulfur from fossil fuel burning and agriculture."
"These include reduced calcification, depressed metabolic rates, lowered immune responses, and reduced energy for basic functions such as reproduction."
"The effects of ocean acidification are therefore impacting marine ecosystems that provide food, livelihoods, and other ecosystem services for a large portion of humanity."
"Some 1 billion people are wholly or partially dependent on the fishing, tourism, and coastal management services provided by coral reefs."
"The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 ("Life below Water") has a target to 'minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification'."
"Reducing carbon dioxide emissions (i.e., climate change mitigation measures) is the only solution that addresses the root cause of ocean acidification."
"The more specific ocean-based mitigation methods (e.g. ocean alkalinity enhancement, enhanced weathering) could also reduce ocean acidification."
"These strategies are being researched but generally have a low technology readiness level and many risks."
"Ocean acidification has occurred previously in Earth's history."
"The resulting ecological collapse in the oceans had long-lasting effects on the global carbon cycle and climate."
"Ongoing acidification of the oceans may therefore threaten food chains linked with the oceans."