Ocean Acidification

Kayleigh Kornher

Background Information

The ocean absorbs 22 million tons of CO2 per day

Absorbing too much could reduce its capacity as CO2 storehouse

More CO2 in the atmosphere!

pH of ocean 8.2 for the past 300 years

of human-created emissions

Now 8.1, change of 25-30%

Most areas of sea with a lot of life

Rich in calcium carbonate minerals

Creatures need this to create shells, helps coral grow

What is Ocean Acidification?

Absorption of CO2 reduces the pH of the ocean

Some areas of the ocean are now unsaturated with calcium carbonate minerals
Ocean pH is projected to drop to 7.6 by 2100 with current rate of emissions
(thats BAD!).

Effects on Sea Life

Shell-forming organisms most affected

Pteropods: tiny sea creature eaten by everything from krill to whales

Oysters, lobsters, clams, some types of plankton,

Affects whole food chain
Its shell deteriorates at projected pH levels:

Reproductive issues of some fish

Coral (fertilization)

Especially bad for Elkhorn coral, an endangered species

Specific Example

Double Whammy on west coast ecosystems and fishing industries

British Columbia and US west coast

Ocean acidification + low oxygen levels = lack of food for salmon (for
example), fish die or move
Low oxygen = hypoxia

Caused by nutrient runoff

Kills fish, or pushes them into different territory

Specific Example

Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals

Already endangered, protected habitat

Acidification puts them even more at risk
Protected habitat wont help!

Elkhorn Coral
Staghorn Coral

Local connection

Coastal communities in the US

Mollusks = $1 billion revenue

Financial impact

Affects all coastal regions

Most affected = Alaska, NW USA

How to improve

Main cause = increased CO2

Reduce emissions

More research on effects

Understand whats happening => Awareness => Advocacy => end it

Research done in
Australia
Click image for more
info

Sources
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F
http://www.noaa.gov/west-coast-prepares-%E2%80%98double-whammy%E2%80%99-threat-oceanhealth
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/explore/pristine-seas/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/ocean-acidification-in-us-18693
https://www.nrdc.org/issues/reduce-ocean-acidification
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/endangered_oceans/