Why Ocean Acidification is so Dangerous.

 A recent article published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration highlights

the danger that ocean acidification poses. Often labeled as “climate change's evil twin”, ocean

acidification is becoming more prevalent than ever before due to the increased rates of carbon

dioxide in the atmosphere. 


Prior to the industrial revolution a harmonious ecosystem was prevalent due to the beneficial

flow of carbon dioxide between life forms. The flow of carbon dioxide was the following: first,

carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air via terrestrial plants. Next, rivers export this gas into the

ocean. Lastly, evaporation from the ocean releases it back into the air. This balanced cycle lasted

for centuries. Now, the release of fossil fuels into the atmosphere has tampered this balance

tremendously. One-third of carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuel is absorbed via the ocean.

This has raised the temperature of the ocean and lowered the pH, which promotes acidification. 

So why is acidification so dangerous for marine life? As pH decreases, the water is becoming

increasingly corrosive. This makes it increasingly difficult for fragile crustaceans to find habitats

and for them to form shells and exoskeletons. This in turn has led to a decrease in population for

a variety of these species. Salmon and many commercially fished marine animals feed on these

crustaceans. With a decrease in prey, salmon and commercially fished fish could decrease, which

could affect humans. Additionally, because of the decrease in pH, coral bleaching is becoming

more common than ever before. Coral deterioration is scary, as once it bleaches, it rarely returns

back to its healthy state. This in turn leads to habitat loss for marine animals and dangers to

humans as coral reefs function to absorb waves and storm surges. 

Posted by Matthew Rosen (7). 

Source: https://www.noaa.gov/ocean-acidification-high-co2-world-dangerous-waters-ahead

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 8, 2023 at 8:35 AM

    Hi Matthew. This is a very pressing subject, as we have seen how climate change can destroy terrestrial habitats. When we correlate the sea to climate change all we think about is the rising sea levels, and in theory, it should be a good thing for oceanic habitats as it expands the area in which they can live. But, if at the same time the pH of the ocean is rising, it could lead to disastrous effects. This is just another reason in a long list of why we should try our best to stop or even reverse the effects of climate change.
    -Sid Warrier

    ReplyDelete
  2. Megan WinklerNovember 8, 2023 at 9:22 AM

    Hey Matthew. This is such a concerning byproduct of global warming, and a prevalent one at that. People tend to focus on the rising sea levels and how it could eventually flood our homes and forget how many repercussions we're already seeing on a microbiological level and how these can eventually disrupt our food chains. So concerning. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousNovember 8, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    Hi Matthew! This is an interesting read! I am very concerned about climate change and what it's doing to our planet as a whole, but specifically with the oceans. I think that a lot of people don't realize how serious of a matter it is for our coral to be dying, and the threats that ocean acidification imposes. I hope that more people read articles such as these ones and educate themselves on how important this subject matter is!
    - Nicole M.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousNovember 8, 2023 at 10:07 AM

    Hi Matthew! This topic is so sad and concerning. As humans, we are continuously and consciously polluting and destroying our oceans and we fail to change our actions. I hope one day we will work to change our ways before its too late <3
    - Chloe Springer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousNovember 12, 2023 at 10:29 AM

      Hey Chloe, thank you for your comment. It is very sad and concerning the dangers that ocean acidification causes. The ocean is the planets largest ecosystem and humans seem to forget that. If ocean acidification continuous to get worse food sustainability would become a more apparent issue. I hope articles like this can provide insight on the these prominent issues.
      -Matthew Rosen

      Delete
  5. AnonymousNovember 8, 2023 at 10:26 AM

    Hi Matt. It really stinks that ocean acidification exists. I want to take up scuba diving one day yet already half of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia has died to due ocean acidification. By the time I have grandchildren it will likely be completely dead. It's really sad what is happening to our planet and its unlikely that things will get better. No technology will fix what we have already started with our burning of fossil fuels and our behaviors will likely remain consistent. - Calvin Keating

    ReplyDelete
  6. Haley SampsonNovember 8, 2023 at 8:28 PM

    Hi Matt, great job! I always love learning about this, I feel like it is a topic that is overlooked because a lot of our focus is on the atmosphere. Ocean acidification is very threatening to a lot of species that are necessary for the prosperity of organism chains and more. I have learned specifically about coral bleaching in my ecology class, so your article definitely caught my eye. Awesome work!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousNovember 10, 2023 at 6:08 PM

    Hey Matt! Sometimes I get frustrated by the lack of efforts to prevent ocean acidification and just climate change as a whole. It's articles like these that really make me stop and think about how much damage we are truly doing to the ecosystems, while so many people could care less because it puts money into their pocket. Thank you for bringing this topic to light.
    Alexis Carson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousNovember 12, 2023 at 10:18 AM

      Hey Alexis, thank you for your comment. I agree, it is very frustrating the lack of effort that nations are doing to prevent climate change and ocean acidification. I hope articles like this can shed light to the American citizens the damage they are causing. I am not sure if you are familiar with the damage to the great barrier reef caused by coral bleaching. I would recommend you take a look into that.
      -Matthew Rosen

      Delete
  8. AnonymousNovember 12, 2023 at 10:35 AM

    Hey Ryan, thank you for you comment. I feel that most Americans assume that the increase in water temperature is the only prominent factor that leads to a decrease in oceanic diversity. Ocean acidification is often overlooked which is dangerous as coral reefs function as habitat for many marine species. As reefs continue to dissipate so will marine life. This is dangerous for humans as we rely on marine life for food.
    -Matthew Rosen

    ReplyDelete

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