Ocean Acidification

Unit 2 - Chemical Reactions

Article: https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/ocean-acidification-25822734

What Is It?

Ocean acidification is the increase in the ocean waters acidity due to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. With the pH lowering, it poses a threat to some marine life such as Pteropods. With the pH continuing to lower as pollution increases, the projections for the future display a significant decrease. It is expected that the pH levels of ocean water are to decrease to 7.7 by 2100. From the current 8.1 pH our oceans have, a decrease by 0.4 pH units would be a tremendous amount.

The Chemistry Behind It All

Carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere (produced from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, etc…), dissolves into the oceans, producing carbonic acid, through a synthesis reaction. The carbonic acid then disassociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate. The hydrogen ions which are produced increase the acidity of the ocean water, ultimately lowering the pH. The chemical equation for ocean acidification:

The more carbon dioxide we produce, the more acidic the oceans will become. Since the industrial revolution the pH of the surface ocean water has fallen 0.1 pH units, it may not seem like a lot however, it represents an approximate 25 % increase in acidity.

The Effects

Organisms which make shells and coral skeletons would be affected. The increasing acidity causes a decrease in carbonate ions which are essential to building and maintaining shells and other calcium carbonate structures. The pteropod, or "sea butterfly," is a small sea creature about the size of a small pea. Despite its small size it is very important to the food chain, species ranging from tiny krills to whales consume this organism. A research had been conducted in order to observe how the projected pH of 2100 would affect the shell of the pteropod. The photos below show the progression over a 45 day period, the shell begins to dissolve.

The decreasing pH has its effects on the aquatic wildlife, which, in turn could have an effect on the human population that depends on different sea creature as their main source of nourishment. Once the aquatic life begins to perish due to acidic water, the agriculture becomes threatened as well. Acidic water would result in an increase of soil acidity. As the soil become too acidic it becomes impossible for certain crops, leading to low production and starvation.

Possible Solutions

Strict Regulations - To avoid polluting the air tremendously, strict laws would be put into place about most importantly waste handling among other things. The way in which the waste is being disposed of would have to be done in such a way that it would not emit any or very little carbon dioxide.

Use of Alternative/Renewable Energy Sources - While fossil fuels burn they emit one of the highest amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. Replacing what needs fossil fuels with what could be a renewable source of energy would reduce the emissions and reduce the chance of contaminating the oceans. Uses of solar and wind energy could significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, if they were used more frequently. Another option would be geothermic energy.

Reflection

In the end the only real solution is to completely stop the use of fossil fuels or significantly reduce our carbon dioxide emission, however, our society relies heavily on the production on these fuels in order to survive. As we continue to adapt to the new resources that become available to us, there will continue to be a long path that we must continue in order to reduce the pollution that we ultimately caused. Many people continue to wait for the miracle discovery that will completely undo the centuries of pollution, if that were to happen it would not happen any time soon. As we continue to evolve as humans and a society we must start to act now, we have resources available to us currently that could help in reducing our contribution to ocean acidification. Many companies could begin to adopt the usage of solar and wind energy in place of non-renewable sources.

In your opinion, what do you believe to be the most detrimental effect ocean acidification has on the earth? Explain. What solutions would you recommend to improve the effect acidification has on the oceans?

Sources;

“Causes, Effects and Solutions of Ocean Acidification.” Conserve Energy Future, 25 Dec. 2016, www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-ocean-acidification.php.

“Ocean Acidification.” National Geographic, 18 July 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/oceans/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/.

“Ocean Acidification.” Ocean Acidification | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Nov. 2013, www.noaa.gov/resource-collections/ocean-acidification.

“Ocean Acidification: ‘The Other Carbon Dioxide Problem.’” Compound Interest, 18 Jan. 2017, www.compoundchem.com/2017/01/18/ocean-acidification-co2/.

“What Is Ocean Acidification?” What Is Ocean Acidification?, www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F.

DiGiuseppe, M. (2011). Nelson Chemistry 11: University Preparation. Toronto, Ont.: Thomson/Nelson.