What is ocean acidification in simple terms?

Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. These changes in ocean chemistry can affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms as well.

What is ocean acidification and why is it a problem?

Ocean acidification reduces the amount of carbonate, a key building block in seawater. This makes it more difficult for marine organisms, such as coral and some plankton, to form their shells and skeletons, and existing shells may begin to dissolve.

Why is ocean acidification happening now?

Ocean acidification is mainly caused by carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere dissolving into the ocean. This leads to a lowering of the water’s pH, making the ocean more acidic. Currently, the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas for human industry is one of the major causes.

What is ocean acidification and how does it work?

Ocean acidification is occurring because excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is being absorbed at the surface of the ocean at an increasing rate. This excess CO2 results in more hydrogen ions, which increases the acidity of the ocean.

What does a drop in ocean pH from 8.2 to 8.1 mean?

The ocean is not acidic! Seawater is never going to get below pH 7—so you must not know what you’re talking about.” The scale is not linear—a drop from pH 8.2 to 8.1 indicates a 30 percent increase in acidity, or concentration of hydrogen ions; a drop from 8.1 to 7.9 indicates a 150 percent increase in acidity.

How do you explain ocean acidification to a child?

The Short Answer: Ocean acidification is a change in the properties of ocean water that can be harmful for plants and animals. Scientists have observed that the ocean is becoming more acidic as its water absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Have you ever heard someone call water “H2O”?

Is ocean acidification a problem?

Unchecked, ocean acidification could affect marine food webs and lead to substantial changes in commercial fish stocks, threatening protein supply and food security for millions of people as well as the multi-billion dollar global fishing industry.

Is ocean acidification bad?

For good reason, ocean acidification is called “osteoporosis of the sea.” Ocean acidification can create conditions that eat away at the minerals that oysters, clams, lobsters, shrimp, coral reefs, some seaweed plants and other marine life use to build their shells and skeletons. Human health, too, is a concern.

What is ocean acidification PBS?

When carbon dioxide reacts with water (H2O) in the ocean, the chemical reactions that take place lead to ocean acidification—the increase in acidity of seawater. The more hydrogen ions in a substance, the lower its pH and the more acidic it is. Ocean acidification is the lowering of ocean pH.

What does ocean acidification do to corals?

Ocean acidification (OA) is considered an important threat to coral reef ecosystems, because it reduces the availability of carbonate ions that reef-building corals need to produce their skeletons.

Does acidification cause bleaching?

Overall, acidification impacted more strongly on bleaching and productivity than on calcification.