How Excess Carbon Dioxide Poisons Ocean Waters

 Since the Industrial Revolution began over two centuries ago, the levels of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), have risen to a detrimental degree. Excess CO2 doesn’t only contribute to global warming; it also increases the acidity of ocean waters. Ocean acidification is a fatal consequence of climate change that threatens the lives of marine creatures and humans.

Human activities such as fossil fuel use and deforestation result in high CO2 emissions. The oceans typically absorb around one-third of atmospheric CO2. As more CO2 saturates the atmosphere, more dissolves in the oceans. This process alters the chemistry of ocean waters, raising the concentration of hydrogen ions and resulting in a drop in pH.

Over the course of 200 years, ocean acidity has increased by 30 percent. Its current pH is 8.1, the lowest in 26,000 years. Without effective interventions, it may drop even more, further exacerbating the chemical imbalance. Additionally, a growing acidity level in ocean waters impacts their capacity to absorb CO2. Over time, oceans won’t be able to absorb it, leaving the atmosphere overloaded with excess emissions, and the consequent climate change effects will only get worse.

Ocean acidification endangers the stability of countless marine ecosystems. When CO2 enters the oceans, it bonds with water molecules and available carbonate ions. Unfortunately, these precious ions are crucial to calcifying marine creatures like coral and many mollusks, including sea snails, oysters, and clams. Calcifying species combine carbonate ions with calcium to build their sturdy skeletons and shells.

As more CO2 dissolves in water and depletes carbonate ions, marine creatures struggle to obtain the carbonate ions that they need. Consequently, they are unable to maintain their structural integrity. Their shells become weaker, making them at risk of more serious storm damage. Mollusks may experience a 40 percent drop in calcification, which lowers their chances of survival.

Coral reefs especially suffer from ocean acidification. Acidic waters hinder coral reefs from creating calcified skeletons and prevent them from recovering at a healthy rate. Similarly, calcifying algae don’t fare well in an acidic ocean; they may experience up to an 80 percent decrease in population.

Long-term severe acidification may lead to the complete dissolution of some species, including cold and warm water coral reefs. The loss of coral reefs has a deadly effect on an ecosystem scale. Many reefs provide shelter to a wide variety of marine species. A decaying coral reef population inevitably leads to a collapse in marine biodiversity.

The rising acidity of ocean waters also affects some fish species, including clownfish. Studies show that lower pH levels hinder the ability of clownfish to locate safe places for habitat and detect predators. These life-threatening dangers can reduce clownfish populations, engendering imbalance in the marine food web.

The impact of ocean acidification on fish unavoidably ripples into human societies. Millions of people depend on the ocean’s riches as a source of seafood. A scarce seafood supply threatens food security around the world and affects fisheries that face the risk of collapse if fish populations continue to dwindle.

The livelihood of coral reefs is closely tied to that of many island inhabitants. Coral reefs serve as protective barriers against the catastrophic effects of storms and cyclones. They also mediate erosion from destroying human habitats.