Climate change has greatly increased the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere and it's having immense effects on the ocean. The carbon dioxide reacts with the saltwater to form carbonic acid. This acid reaches an equilibrium under existing ocean conditions and increases the acidity of the ocean as well as reduces carbonate ion concentrations. Carbonate ion is a key mineral in the formation of shells and marine skeletons so this acidification can be very detrimental. These increased levels of acid can lead to the shells of animals dissolving over time, causing them to die. Many of these animals are crucial parts of their food webs and contribute to all marine life from animals as big as whales and as small as krill. The acid levels also affect the sensory abilities of some fish. Certain fish can not detect predators as well if the acid levels are higher and they are not able to find suitable habitats. This also affects the food chains that they are a part of. The trend that the pH of the ocean is following, accompanies a very grim outlook for the earth. Scientists estimate that the ocean could reach a pH as low as 7.8 by the end of the century. Last time that the oceans were at a pH level that low, the Earth was many degrees warmer and a mass extinction event was occurring. The solutions to ocean acidification pretty much coincide with solutions to climate change. The main focus is reducing the carbon dioxide that goes into the atmosphere as well as removing carbon dioxide that is already in the atmosphere. While we don't know the full effects of ocean acidification, we do know that if it continues at this level, many marine food webs will be in trouble. As discussed in some of my earlier posts, these changes and solutions most likely need to come from the government or large corporations in order to make a difference.
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