What is ocean acidification and why does it matter?
The ocean is becoming more acidic faster than at any time in the past 300 million years.
The answer
Ocean acidification occurs when seawater absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, forming carbonic acid and lowering the pH. Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean surface pH has dropped from about 8.2 to 8.1, which represents a roughly 30% increase in acidity. This threatens shell-building organisms like corals, oysters, and pteropods because acidic water dissolves calcium carbonate, the mineral they need for their skeletons and shells. Scientists project that at current emission rates, the ocean could become 150% more acidic by 2100 relative to pre-industrial levels.
Source: NOAA Ocean Acidification Program
- ocean acidification
- pH
- carbon dioxide
- coral
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