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Hi! My name is Suleima Hernández Bao,

I am from Cuba and I currently live in Miami, Florida. I study at Miami Dade College an Associate in Accounting.

I'll be honest, I've never heard of ocean acidification before. Finding out about this terrible man-started event, I wanted to read and learn what acidification was, how it happened, how it affects us today, and what we can do to stop it.

My research shows that acidification began with the Industrial Revolution. The acidification is due to the reduction of the pH in the surface waters of the ocean. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is released into the atmosphere. As atmospheric CO2 levels rise due to human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels.
Ocean acidification affects many ocean species, especially organisms such as oysters and corals that form hard shells and skeletons by combining calcium and carbonate from seawater. Changes in ocean chemistry can also affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms.

Will it not be possible or safe for humans to ingest the water?

Many people believe that the main negative effect of ocean acidification for humans is that it will not be safe to enter the water, but this is not true since a high pH, ​​such as 7.8, is not directly harmful to humans. The negative effects for humans are directly related to the marine food chain and the coral reef ecosystem.

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The article lets us know what acidification is and since when has it been occurring on our planet. Acidification began with the Industrial Revolution. The acidification is due to the reduction of the pH in the surface waters of the ocean. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is released into the atmosphere. As atmospheric CO2 levels rise due to human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels.

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When CO ₂ dissolves in seawater to produce aqueous CO ₂ (CO 2(aq)) it also forms carbonic acid (H ₂CO ₃) (Eq. 1; Figure 1). Carbonic acid rapidly dissociates (splits apart) to produce bicarbonate ions (HCO ₃⁻, Eq. 2). In turn, bicarbonate ions can also dissociate into carbonate ions (CO ₃ ²⁻, Eq. 3). Both of these reactions (Eqs. 2, 3) also produce protons (H⁺) and therefore lower the pH of the solution (i.e., the water is now more acidic than it was - recall that pH is the negative logarithm of the proton concentration or activity, -log ₁₀[H⁺]. Note, as illustrated in Figure 2, Ocean Acidification does not imply that ocean waters will actually become acidic (i.e., pH < 7.0).

However, when CO ₂ dissoves in seawater it does not fully dissociate into carbonate ions and the number of hydrogen ions produced (and the drop in pH) is therefore smaller than one might expect. This is due to the natural capacity of seawater to buffer against changes in pH, which can be represented simply by:

where CO ₂ is effectively neutralized by reaction with CO ₃ ²⁻ to produce HCO ₃⁻. The HCO ₃⁻ produced by Eq. 4 then partly dissociates (Eq. 3), releasing protons and so decreasing the pH-which is where the 'ocean acidification' actually comes from-but this drop is much smaller than for an un-buffered system. One can also think of the sequence of events resulting from dissolving CO ₂ in seawater as firstly the production of HCO ₃⁻ and H⁺, but because the equilibrium between HCO ₃⁻ and CO ₃ ²⁻ (Eq. 3) has now been unbalanced by excess acidity (H⁺), Eq. 3 goes to the left to consume some of the excess H⁺, and in doing so, also consumes CO ₃ ²⁻.

The total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in seawater is defined as the sum of [CO 2(aq)] + [HCO ₃⁻] + [CO ₃ ²⁻]. The distribution of DIC between these species varies with seawater pH (Figure 2). Typically, the surface waters of today's ocean have a pH of around 8.1, meaning that HCO ₃⁻ is the dominant carbonate species, representing about 90% of DIC. CO ₃ ²⁻ is the next most abundant species (~10% of DIC), while CO 2(aq) represents less than 1% of DIC. Note that there is so little carbon in the form of carbonic acid (H ₂CO ₃) at any one moment in time, that the concentrations of CO 2(aq) and H ₂CO ₃ are usually combined as [CO 2(aq)] (also written: [H ₂CO ₃*]). All else being equal, as more CO ₂ is added to seawater the pH will slowly decrease and the balance between the three carbonate species will change, with [CO 2(aq)] and [HCO ₃⁻] increasing and [CO ₃ ²⁻] decreasing - this is the fingerprint of anthropogenic (human caused) ocean acidification.

From the relations above it can be seen that the ability of seawater to buffer changes in its pH as CO ₂ is added depends on the amount (or concentration) of CO ₃ ²⁻ present. It is then intuitive that the buffering capacity of seawater will decrease as more CO ₂ is added and CO ₃ ²⁻ is progressively consumed. Because of this, the proportion of CO ₂ added to seawater that remains as CO 2(aq) increases as more CO ₂ is added, an effect first recognised by Roger Revelle and Hans Suess (Revelle & Suess 1957) and quantified as the 'Revelle Factor'. The proportion of DIC present as CO ₂ is also affected by temperature, as illustrated in Figure 2. The consequence of this is that, as the ocean warms, less DIC will be partitioned into the form of CO ₂ (and more as CO ₃ ²⁻), hence enhancing the buffering and providing a 'negative feedback' on rising atmospheric CO ₂. Here, a feedback describes a mechanism that dimishes or amplifies an initial change and asribed the sign 'negative' or 'positive', respectively. For example, melting polar ice caps through global warming will reduce the amount of solar radiation that is reflected back out to space (the Earth's surface becomes less reflective), so producing more warming, which in turn will melt more ice, and so on - a positive feedback. A well-known positive feedback in the carbon cycle arises due to the decrease in solubility of CO ₂ gas in seawater at higher temperatures. In fact, this greatly outweighs the negative feedback described above, meaning that as the ocean surface warms, even more of the emitted fossil fuel CO ₂ will remain in the atmosphere.

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When CO 2 dissolves in seawater to produce aqueous CO 2 (CO 2(aq)) it also forms carbonic acid (H 2CO 3) (Eq. 1; Figure 1). Carbonic acid rapidly dissociates (splits apart) to produce bicarbonate ions (HCO 3 -, Eq. 2). In turn, bicarbonate ions can also dissociate into carbonate ions (CO 3 2-, Eq.

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The increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels has implications for marine life. Excess atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in the oceans, causing the ocean's pH to drop. This has implications for marine life that is dependent on calcium carbonate, as illustrated in this interesting and short video.

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The article shows us the effects of ocean acidification for humans. Many people believe that the main negative effect of ocean acidification for humans is that it will not be safe to enter the water, but this is not true as a high pH, such as 7.8 is not directly harmful to humans. . The negative effects for humans are directly related to the marine food chain and the coral reef ecosystem.

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Ocean acidification (OA) doesn’t only just affect marine life in the ocean. It affects humans too in different ways. It causes effects on many things that leads to effects to something else. In this...

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Learn About 5 Scary Consequences to Ocean Acidification

We've all heard it before: climate change is affecting our planet. And not in a good way.

But most of what we hear, is about how climate change will affect our atmosphere.
In this article, we'll cover a less-discussed, but just-as-important climate change issue: ocean acidification.
Read this article to learn...

1. How ocean acidification happens

2. And 5 scary consequences to ocean acidification

3. What will happen if we don't slow down ocean acidification

4. How to slow down ocean acidification

5. A summary of the above points

Ready?
Let's get started!

A. How ocean acidification happens

Since the industrial revolution, we have begun to burn a lot of fossil fuels. In doing so, we have released a lot of carbon dioxide (CO ₂) into the air.

As we mentioned earlier, we know that CO ₂ affects the atmosphere. But what most people don't know, is that CO ₂ affects our oceans.

Eventually...some of that CO ₂ falls back down into our oceans. How much?
Our oceans have absorbed about HALF of all human-produced CO2 emissions.
When CO ₂ dissolves in our oceans, it increases hydrogen ions. Those hydrogen ions, then bond with carbonate ions to form carbonic acid. This leads to a lower ocean pH level.

In other words...

When we pollute into the air, the ocean gets more acidic.

Take a look at the diagram below to see an illustration.

You see? The higher the CO 2, the lower the ocean pH levels (lower pH, means more acidic).

Now let's examine...

5 scary consequences to ocean acidification.

1. PTEROPODS

Sometimes called a "sea butterfly", pteropods are tiny marine creatures. They're actually about the size of a small pea.
While they may be small in stature, they are largely connected to the food web of the ocean.
Many fish, and even krill, have pteropods as part of their diet, or eat animals that eat pteropods.

Watch what happens to a pteropod's shell after spending 45 days in sea water with a pH level of 7.8 (more on this later).

As you can see-almost overnight-the pteropod's shell rapidly dissolved

2. SHELLFISH

As we mentioned earlier, due to CO 2 pollution, carbonate ions are bonding with hydrogen ions.

Why is this important?

Because shellfish need carbonate ions to help form their protective shells made of calcium carbonate (CaCo3).

Shellfish include mollusks, crustaceans, sea-urchins, crabs, planktons and other marine species.

These species are being robbed of a fundamental building block necessary to their survival.

3. FISH

While fish aren't don't suffer the same dire consequences, they are still affected nonetheless.

They need to expel any excess acid. How? Through their gills, kidneys, and intestines. This process takes precious energy. Energy that could have been used to digest food or escape predators.

It also means fish sizes will get smaller.

4. CORAL REEFS

Coral reefs are also composed of calcium carbonate. They use it to build their "hard skeleton". This is especially true in the early stages of development.

With more carbonate ions bonding with hydrogen ions, that means less carbonate ions available for coral reefs.

The result?
A more brittle coral reef that has trouble reproducing.
Not only can entire coral reefs die, but the organisms that depend on it as well.

These species include red snapper and grouper.

5. FUTURE OCEAN PH LEVELS

We know CO 2 pollution is getting worse. This also means, our ocean's pH level will also continue to decrease (meaning more acidic).

Remember that pteropod shell we showed you dissolving?

That was in seawater with a pH level of 7.8.

As you can see above, scientists predict our ocean will reach a pH level of 7.8 in less than a century.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP OCEAN ACIDIFICATION?

It would be nearly impossible to stop ocean acidification.

But what we can do is, slow it down. This will give our ocean a chance to acclimate to the new pH level.

So how we slow down ocean acidification?

By weening ourselves off fossil fuels.

This means using...

SUMMARY:

Solar panels like Tesla's new shingle-shaped solar roofs.

Public transportation that consolidates travelers into one vehicle.

Supporting green companies and organizations

Attempting to shrink your carbon footprint

Sources:
How big is your carbon footprint? Find out with this cool carbon footprint calculator.

1. Burning fossil fuels leads to climate change.

2. Climate change leads to higher levels of CO2 pollution in our ocean.

3. A higher ocean pH level leads to ocean acidification.

4. Ocean acidification prevents shellfish and coral reefs from forming shells.

5. In the end, our ocean suffers because everything is connected ecologically.

This concludes our article 'Learn About 5 Scary Consequences to Ocean Acidification'. If you enjoyed, please Like or Share on Facebook! Let us know in the comments below any clever ways you have been able to shrink your carbon footprint. http://climateinterpreter.org/content/effects-ocean-acidification-marine-food-chain http://climateinterpreter.org/content/effects-ocean-acidification-coral-reefs http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-acidification http://climateinterpreter.org/sites/default/files/resources/ocean_acid2_NMS.pdf http://climateinterpreter.org/content/humans-can-take-action-slow-process-ocean-acidification http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm?ref=www.nature.org

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Learn About 5 Scary Consequences to Ocean Acidification - Dolphinaris

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Learn About 5 Scary Consequences to Ocean Acidification We've all heard it before: climate change is affecting our planet. And not in a good way. But most of what we hear, is about how climate change will affect our atmosphere. In this article, we'll cover a less-discussed, but just-as-important climate change issue: ocean acidification.

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The Effects of Ocean Acidification on Pteropod Shells

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The article shows us the impact of acidification on the oceans. Ocean acidification affects many ocean species, especially organisms such as oysters and corals that form hard shells and skeletons by combining calcium and carbonate from seawater. Changes in ocean chemistry can also affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms. The ability of some fish, such as clownfish, to detect predators decreases in more acidic waters.

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Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History

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How Carbon Affects Nearly Everything on Earth – Including Our Future

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Ocean acidification is expected to cost the global economy more than USD$1 trillion per year by 2100.

Our Initiative

The Ocean Foundation’s International Ocean Acidification Initiative builds the capacity of scientists, policymakers, and communities to monitor, understand, and respond to ocean acidification both locally and collaboratively on a global scale. We do this by creating practical tools and resources that are designed to work all around the world.

Together with our partners, The Ocean Foundation designed a suite of equipment that cut the cost of monitoring ocean chemistry by 90%. To further facilitate the use of these new tools, we hold trainings around the world and provide long term support through equipment, stipends, and ongoing mentoring.

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Across the globe, seawater chemistry is changing faster than at any time in earth's history. As increased carbon dioxide emissions dissolve into the ocean, its chemical makeup is altered, becoming more and more acidic. On average, seawater is 30% more acidic than it was 200 years ago. And while this change in chemistry - known as ocean acidification - may be invisible, its effects are not.

OA is further exacerbated by regional sources of pollution, such as stormwater runoff and local factory emissions. And it's already having devastating effects on marine organisms and ecosystems. In more acidic waters, shellfish and coral struggle to form their shells and skeletons, fish lose their ability to smell their predators, and crustaceans die before they can reproduce.

Ocean acidification is expected to cost the global economy more than USD$1 trillion per year by 2100.

Despite this great risk, those communities most vulnerable to OA - such as small islands or low income coastal areas - have no infrastructure in place to monitor and respond to the issue.

Our Initiative

The Ocean Foundation's International Ocean Acidification Initiative builds the capacity of scientists, policymakers, and communities to monitor, understand, and respond to OA both locally and collaboratively on a global scale. We do this by creating practical tools and resources that are designed to work all around the world.

Together with our partners, The Ocean Foundation designed a suite of equipment that cut the cost of monitoring ocean chemistry by 90%. To further facilitate the use of these new tools, we hold global trainings and provide long term support through equipment, stipends, and ongoing mentoring.

Since 2003, The Ocean Foundation's International Ocean Acidification Initiative has fostered innovation and developed strategic partnerships to support scientists, policymakers, and communities around the world. This work is governed by a four-pronged global strategy:

1. Monitor: Observing how, where, and how quickly is change occurring

2. Analyze: Studying current and future effects of ocean chemistry on natural and human communities

3. Engage: Building partnerships and coalitions with stakeholders

4. Act: Enacting legislation that supports science, mitigates OA and helps communities adapt

Our Work

The work of the IOAI, like all our work at TOF, aims to strengthen organizations around the world to help reverse the trend of ocean destruction. Within the IOAI, we do this by providing a combination of technical training, financial support, legal counsel, and direct distribution of field and lab equipment. Our goal is for every country in the world to have a robust national OA monitoring and mitigation strategy, driven by local experts to address local needs. In addition, we coordinate regional and international action to provide the necessary governance and financial frameworks needed to address this international problem.

In the past 5 years we have:

Led 8 regional scientific trainings for more than 150 scientists in Africa, the Pacific Islands, Latin America, and the Caribbean on the science of OA and how to conduct high quality monitoring and experiments

Provided 35 collaborative research and travel grants to scientists in lesser developed nations

Held 2 regional policy trainings and 1 national training for more than 50 policymakers to showcase specific legislative examples of action on OA and to help policymakers design legislative frameworks that best address their local needs

Published a comprehensive guidebook on ocean acidification legislation

Developed a new kit of monitoring equipment that reduced the cost of monitoring by 90%

Deployed 17 monitoring kits to 16 countries, establishing monitoring where it didn't exist before and filling critical knowledge gaps

Funded two coastal restoration projects to study how blue carbon, such as mangrove and seagrass, can mitigate ocean acidification locally

Formed formal partnerships with national governments and intergovernmental agencies to help coordinate large scale action

Assisted with passing two regional resolutions through formal UN processes to stimulate momentum

Provided drafting support to legislators in more than 7 U.S. states to produce and pass ocean acidification legislation

Launched the annual Ocean Acidification Day of Action and held two successful high profile events at the Embassies of Sweden and New Zealand in DC in order to build awareness and support for action on OA within the international diplomatic community

As we enter the next decade, we are energized by the requests we have received to help additional regions and nations take on ocean acidification through science and policy, we are hard at work to continue to develop low-cost and fit-for-purpose tools for monitoring and responding to ocean acidification, and we are confident that together with our partners we will achieve our vision of ensuring every nation can monitor, understand, and respond to ocean acidification.

"It is impossible to overstate the importance of the donation of the equipment and the training provided by TOF. STRI is the only organization in Panama that carries out high quality, long-term ocean chemistry monitoring. Until now, OA monitoring had only been carried out at one location in the Atlantic Ocean. We are now able to carry out the same monitoring at multiple locations in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans of Panama. This will be of critical importance to both the scientific community, as well as the nation of Panama"
Dr. Steve Paton, Director of the Office of Bioinformatics at STRI

The Bigger Picture

Ocean acidification is considered one of the greatest threats to the health of our ocean. Previous mass extinctions are correlated in the geologic record with increased ocean acidification. There is serious concern among the scientific community that OA could disrupt fisheries that support livelihoods and food security, and that biodiversity will likely decline significantly in the ocean.

Ocean acidification is caused globally by carbon dioxide emissions, and can be exacerbated locally by introduction of carbon into the water, such as through excess fertilization or waste water. In order to minimize and halt OA, global CO2 emissions must halt or significantly decline and local sources of carbon must be reduced. Reducing CO2 and local sources of carbon not only helps to stop ocean acidification - it halts climate change and improves coastal water quality. OA is therefore a grave threat to the ocean, but the solutions to OA will help us address the other major environmental stressors facing our ocean.

The approach we take through the IOAI is to support and strengthen actors all over the world in their individual fights to understand and address ocean acidification. Scientists and policymakers worldwide look to us for advice and support. This is an embodiment of our mission as the only community foundation for the ocean. Everything we do has strengthened the ability of scientists, policymakers, and ultimately communities to monitor, understand, and respond to OA.

Additional Resources

Channel

Ocean Acidification Day of Action

From the shallows to the depths of our blue planet, a crisis is occurring.

Article

A Movement to Understand Our Changing Ocean - Building Capacity in Africa to Monitor Ocean Acidification

Blog

Ocean Acidification - A Ubiquitous Problem

As Dr. Chris Langdon said at the meeting, "ocean acidification is not a future threat in Florida, it's a present problem, and it's only going to get worse."

Research

Ocean Acidification

The ocean absorbs a significant portion of our carbon dioxide emissions, which is changing the chemistry of the ocean at an unprecedented rate.

Guidebook

Ocean Acidification Guidebook for Policymakers

The Ocean Foundation's Ocean Acidification Guidebook for Policymakers is designed to provide already adopted examples of legislation and language to aid the drafting of new lawmaking to address ocean acidification.

Recent

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Ocean Acidification - The Ocean Foundation

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Across the globe, seawater chemistry is changing faster than at any time in earth's history. As increased carbon dioxide emissions dissolve into the ocean, its chemical makeup is altered, becoming more and more acidic. On average, seawater is 30% more acidic than it was 200 years ago.