OCEAN

ACIDIFICATION
Coral reefs
• Belong to the most diverse
ecosystem in the world.
• They cover less than 1 percent of
the ocean floor.
• They are found in Australia,
Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New
guinea, Fiji and the Maldives.
• Australia has the largest coral reef
(Great barrier Reef) which covers
an area of 41,942 sq. km
 Acidification of
corals
• Occurs due to the absorption
of co2 from the atmosphere.
• Co2 reacts with the sea
water to form carbonic acid.
• Due to increase in carbon
emission, more carbonic
acid is formed in the water.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

• The more acidic the water become, the less calcium carbonate it can retain.
• Many marine species including coral require calcium carbonate to build their shells and
exoskeletons.
• Without it, shells grow slowly and become weak. Coral reefs with breakable, slow-growing
corals erode more quickly than they accrete. Reefs can disappear, and the extinction of
entire species is possible.
 Conclusion
Coral reefs worldwide are facing impacts from climate change,
overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution.
At least 63% of coral-reef-associated biodiversity has declined
with loss of coral extent.
Efforts are being made in the Philippines to increase awareness
of the potential impacts of ocean acidification. However, it will
take global action to decrease our carbon emissions and help to
protect the world’s fragile coral reef ecosystems.

Achieving climate-change-emissions targets and reducing local

impacts can reduce stress on coral reefs, allowing them and the
ecosystem services that they provide to persist.