Oceanic Acidification: RM Research

Ocean Acidification Caused by Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

            Atmospheric carbon dioxide affects not only the air quality, but also the pH levels of the ocean below it. Specifically, the carbon dioxide makes the ocean water more acidic, resulting in the effect known as ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is detrimental to marine life. Acidification has the greatest effect on corals and plankton. Ocean acidification is important for humans to know about because human made resources are the primary cause for the abundance of carbon dioxide. The loss of marine resources from ocean acidification affects the marine ecosystem adversely.

            Higher acidic levels in the ocean have a degrading affect on the marine life. Most commonly, ocean acidification affects corals both tropical and sub-tropical. Acidic ocean water attacks the coral’s carbonate structure. The carbonate structure gives the coral its support and protection. Without the carbonate shell, the soft, organic part of the coral is left exposed. The soft part is then subject to predation and natural destruction. The elimination of coral can exterminate tropical and sub-tropical reefs. All of the organisms that inhabited the destroyed coral reef lose all forms of shelter and most food sources. The organism either falls subject to predation or starvation as a result of the destruction of a reef. Plankton are also susceptible to ocean acidification. Acidic water breaks down most plankton’s protective carbonate shells. Without the shells, the plankton die, effectively eradicating the food source of many marine organisms. Ocean acidification also has detrimental affects on nearly every organism inhabiting the oceans.

            Ocean acidification is primarily caused by humans. Humans cause ocean acidification by the combustion of fossil fuels that humans use for daily uses. Most humans are responsible for the combustion through a very common method of transportation. Any gasoline-burning vehicle emits carbon dioxide in gaseous from which travels straight into the atmosphere. Factories also burn off an immense amount of fossil fuels leading to direct atmospheric absorption. The main reason for atmospheric carbon dioxide is an increasing earth population combined with a dependence on the burning of fossil fuels to perform ordinary tasks. Burning fossil fuels is an action that can easily be both avoided and prevented by humans. However, the current increasing rate of combustion and carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere only leads to the prediction that the ocean will continue to get more acidic.

            Ocean acidification has a detrimental effect on the oceans that humans take for granted today. The acidification primarily affects corals and planktons, but can have effects through the entire marine ecosystem. The main cause of ocean acidification is oceanic absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is a direct result of the combustion of fossil fuel, which humans are increasingly burning. As fossil fuels are increasingly used, Ocean acidification may destroy the world’s oceans as they are known today.

Works Cited

The Royal Society, Science Policy Section. (2005). Ocean acidification due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Cardiff: Clyvedon Press Ltd.