Ocean Acidification

Hank Hostetler
October 10, 2009
12:22 pm

The ocean has absorbed 1/3 of CO2 emissions since 1800. This has caused the acidity level of the ocean to rise significantly. At the current rate of emissions, scientists estimate that the pH level of the ocean will have dropped three fold by 2100. Mollusks and deep water corals are expected to be the first oceanic inhabitants to be effected. The calcium shells of corals grow almost twice as slow in seawater with the acidic level predicted for 2100. This could lead to a major blow to an entire ecosystem, as these corals are essential to the survival of many ocean species. Negotiations are currently being made in an effort to lower CO2 emissions.
This article is very informative. It is interesting to read about other potential dangers of CO2 emissions to the environment, besides global warming. However, it seems that there is still a lot that needs to be studied to determine the extent of the dangers that CO2 emissions actually present to oceanic ecosystems worldwide. It is clear that they raise acid levels and that this delays coral growth, but these tests were done in a lab. The ocean is a very big space and making estimations on the speed at which corals will produce shells in 2100 leaves much room for error. I would be interested to see how the acidic levels have effected corals in other parts of the world or whether acidic levels have actually risen significantly elsewhere. At any rate, it seems clear that CO2 emissions are harmful to the environment and certain efforts to better monitor these emissions are necessary.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915101359.htm