Ocean Acidification

By: Andrei Amerkhan

 What is it?
• Define as the reduction of pH of the
ocean.

• Drastic increase of ocean’s acidity.

• Happening faster than expected

 Brief History
• Ocean pH from 8.2 to 8.1

• By 2050, ocean acidity will

increase by 86%

• By 2100, ocean acidity will

increase by 150%. The pH will then
be 7.8.
 What caused it? Or rather, who?
Humans of course:
• Excessive carbon emissions
-burning of fossil fuels
-farming livestock
-CO2 release of vehicles, etc.

• Deforestation

• Since 18th century, 400 billion tons

of carbon was added in our
atmosphere.
 How does it affect our oceans?
• CO2 absorption → increase in
hydrogen ion concentration →
increase in ocean acidity
→ decrease in carbonate ions

• Carbonate ions are important

building blocks to build calcium
carbonate (CaCO3).
 How does it affect our oceans?
• Crustaceans/Echinoids
-Shell/skeleton building
-Limited growth

• Coral Reefs
-Limit growth and reproduction
-Bleaching
 How does it affect our oceans?

• Zooplankton
-dissolving shells

• Coralline Algae
How does it affect our oceans?

• Fish
-Acidosis

• Possible species extinction

Resources
• https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification
• https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/acidification.html#:~:text=Ocean%20a
cidification%20refers%20to%20a,CO2)%20from%20the%20atmosphere.
• https://www.epa.gov/ocean-acidification/understanding-science-ocean-
and-coastal-
acidification#:~:text=Today%2C%20average%20ocean%20pH%20is,ten%2D
fold%20increase%20in%20acidity.
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/oceans/critical-issues-
ocean-acidification/
• https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/2017-state-
climate-ocean-uptake-human-produced-
carbon#:~:text=The%20American%20Meteorological%20Society's%20State
,average%20of%201.9%20billion%20tonnes.