Ocean Acidification

The ocean is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of earth's water. The overall pH of the ocean is 8.1 which is basic or alkaline in nature. According to pH scale ,the pH number less than 7 is acidic and the pH number greater than 7 is basic in nature.

What is ocean acidification ???

Ocean acidification is the process by which a massive amount of carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean which reduces the water’s pH levels, thus making it more acidic in the process. Ocean acidification reduces the amount of carbonate which is necessary for the maintenance of seawater. The ocean acidification makes it difficult for marine animals such as planktons and corlas to form shells and skeletons, thus affecting the marine food web to a great extent.

Due to climate change, the ocean is absorbing more carbon dioxide than ever and when this happens it dissolves and reacts with water creating carbonic acid. Nearly 30% of the overall carbon emission will be stored in the ocean since it cover 70% of the total body. In 2021 we had emitted 37.12 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere in that 11.14 billion ton was captured only by ocean. The Ocean is a carbon sink , which means that it absorbs more carbon than it releases 25% of human released carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean Aquatic organisms turns them to calcium carbonate- when the aquatic organisms die, their bodies decay and release the carbon which sinks into the deep ocean where it is stored for million of years. Some carbon stays as gas, it dissolves and sinks down. It may travel around the glove in the deep sea but it eventually rises, release the carbon di oxide.

Over time this can cause our oceans incredibly acidic. According to survey if this carbon emission continuous, In the year 2100 all aquatic animals and marine plants will be corroded via the acids. There are nearly 2,30,000 species in the ocean, this was just we found . Scientists estimated that there are 2 million more species yet to discover. For sharks , whales and some other gigantic animals the skin is hard, although it will go extinct. Marine species will not adapt the scenario. This is happened several million years back , there were Mass extinction begins.

Once the ocean acidified, then slowly corrosion and erosion of building will occur in land. The hurricane will be more powerful. During the flood, we may have the chance to visualize stagnant acids in front of our house. Even there are more possible for the Acid rain. If acid becomes more acidity day by day , then the ground surface gets broken and steam of acids comes from the ground. Due to inexistent of marine species, human food chain might affected.

Impact on species

Ocean acidification is already impacting many ocean species, especially organisms like oysters and corals that make hard shells and skeletons by combining calcium and carbonate from seawater. However, as ocean acidification increases, available carbonate ions (CO32-) bond with excess hydrogen, resulting in fewer carbonate ions available for calcifying organisms to build and maintain their shells, skeletons, and other calcium carbonate structures. If the pH gets too low, shells and skeletons can even begin to dissolve.

Changes in ocean chemistry can affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms as well. The ability of some fish, like clownfish, to detect predators is decreased in more acidic waters. Studies have shown that decreased pH levels also affect the ability of larval clown fishoffsite link to locate suitable habitat. When these organisms are at risk, the entire food web may also be at risk.

While some species will be harmed by ocean acidification, algae and seagrasses may benefit from higher CO2 conditions in the ocean, as they require CO2 for photosynthesis just like plants on land.