Ocean Acidification by David Miller

What is Ocean Acidification?

chan_briana — 2015-03-30 18:07:05 UTC

The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. An estimated 30-40% of the carbon dioxide released by humans into the atmosphere dissolves into oceans, rivers, and lakes.

What does Ocean Acidification do to the environment?

drgreene100 — 2015-03-30 18:08:28 UTC

Ocean Acidification does many harmful things to the environment. One problem is that the clams and oysters shells are getting weaker from the carbon dioxide inside the water. The big problem with that if your one of 7 people who get most of their protein from seafood, and all of your protein source is disappearing, then your left with billions of people hungry and not able to get protein. Also, the animals that live in the ocean feed off the carbonate ions that are in the ocean. Because of Ocean Acidification, the hydrogen ions are taking the carbonate away, meaning that the animals who feed of the carbonate, spend more time fixing their shells, rather than helping them grow, so most of them die off way too small and get eaten before they can reach their full size.

Process of Ocean Acidification

david112 — 2015-03-30 18:09:43 UTC

This is whats going on in our oceans because of the delema of ocean acidification.

Co2 Emission facts

brandonnakao — 2015-03-30 18:12:18 UTC

At least one fourth of the carbon dioxide released by burning coal, oil and gas doesn't stay in the air, but it instead dissolves into the ocean. Since the beginning of the industrial era, the ocean has absorbed more than 525 billion tons of Co2 from the atmospehre. Currently, the ocean is absorbing 22 millions tons of Co2 per day.

How Can We Fight Ocean Acidification?

chan_briana — 2015-03-30 18:24:04 UTC

Local actions on land may play an important role in the progress of acidification in coastal waters. High loads of nutrients such as nitrogen and organic carbon can cause acidification, linking human facilitated nutrient run off to coastal ocean chemistry. Reducing nutrient loading could offer a short-term solution to the progression of ocean acidification in some locales.

david112 — 2015-03-30 18:26:28 UTC

Effects on Shelled Creatures

brandonnakao — 2015-03-31 17:40:42 UTC

The higher acidity in the ocean from the surplus of Co2 emissions deeply affects sea creature whose shells are formed by calcium carbonate. When Co2 from the atmosphere combines with the water, it produces carbonic acid which decreases the carbonate ions, which are the main building blocks of marine animal shells. As the ocean becomes more acidic, the carbonate ions will become increasingly scarce, preventing the shelled organism from growing shells and maintaining homes.

Human Impact on our Oceans

drgreene100 — 2015-03-31 17:47:36 UTC

Humans give our oceans about 1/3 of the CO2, roughly 22 million tons of CO2 per day! Over the past 300 million years, our ocean has been slightly basic, about an 8.2 pH. Today, it is averaging at an 8.1 pH, representing an increase of 25% acidity over the years. Because of us over fishing, most of the oceans ecosystem and the animals living there are dying and not able to reproduce as quickly so they can repopulate the ocean.

Article on Ocean Acidification

david112 — 2015-03-31 17:59:39 UTC

20 Facts of Ocean Acidification

david112 — 2015-03-31 18:04:09 UTC

brandonnakao — 2015-04-03 04:55:57 UTC