Ocean Acidification
The ocean temperatures are rising so much that corals are bleaching, marine life is dying, and the beauty of our aquatic environments is being lost. Our oceans are a crucial part of the carbon cycle, absorbing about 30% of carbon dioxide that is released into the Earth’s atmosphere. As higher concentrations of carbon emissions are released, things such as burning fossil fuels, the effects of global climate change, elevated rates of wildfires, and an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide that is absorbed back into the sea. The smallest change in the pH scale can have a significant impact on the acidity of the ocean. Ocean acidification has devastating impacts on marine ecosystems and species, and its food webs, and provokes irreversible changes in habitat quality. Once pH levels reach too low, marine organisms such as oysters, could even start to dissolve. However, one of the biggest environmental problems from ocean acidification is coral bleaching and subsequent coral reef loss. This is a phenomenon that occurs when rising ocean temperatures disrupt the symbiotic relationship between the reefs and algae that live within it, driving away the algae and causing coral reefs to lose their natural vibrant colors. Resulting in corals becoming white and looking “bleached". Some scientists have estimated coral reefs are at risk of being completely wiped out by 2050. Higher acidity in the ocean would obstruct coral reef systems' ability to rebuild their calcium carbonate exoskeletons and recover from these coral bleaching events. These changes in ocean chemistry can affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms as well. Certain fish's ability to detect predators is decreased in more acidic waters. When these organisms are at risk, the entire food web may also be at risk.
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