trippy oceans

Ocean Acidification. It’s a big word, but don’t let that intimidate you…let’s break it down.

1. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere

2. This carbon dioxide then enters the ocean.

3. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, carbonic acid is formed

4. Excess hydrogen is released to form carbonate ions which form bicarbonates that shellfish would otherwise use for their shells and produces hydrogen

5. Excess hydrogen also makes the water more acidic overall

6. Which causes a LOT of problems.

• It turns coral reefs that look like this

• into THIS

Which isn’t good for these guys

or really any of these guys…because even if an organism doesn’t have a shell or rely on reefs, chances are that another crucial organism that is part of the ecosystem does.

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But acidification also really effects these guys too

I mean, especially fishing and coastal industries that rely on the aquatic life for their source of income

ALSO acidification releases greenhouse gases into the air that intensify the effects of climate change

So why do humans continue to emit such high levels of carbon dioxide when the effects are just so awful???? It just seems to make more sense to reduce the amount of carbon we emit so that we can reduce the rate of acidification.

And that rate is SCARY and increasing faster than ever!

I just think that we should really try to make a change in this world for the better. Please go vote for reform to help make this planet a better place for all of us!

And if not for the sake of humanity, at least do it for this guy.

For the visual learners, here’s a helpful youtube video.

for more information make sure to check out my other posts!!!

Here are some things you should know about the harm we are causing our to oceans.

But its going to hurt those companies in the long run….”Ocean Acidification Will Cost Global Economy $1 Trillion by 2100” (Bradbury)

Source: Bradbury, Danny. “Ocean Acidification Will Cost Global Economy $1 Trillion by 2100.” GreenBiz, GreenBiz Group Inc., 9 Oct. 2014, www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/10/09/ocean-acidification-cost-global-economy-1-trillion-2100.

Plus, the marine industry is already facing the costs.

 The scallop industry itself is worth $10,000 and the fishing industry from Alaska alone is worth $4.6 billion. In 2014, fishermen in both industries faced incredible losses due to acidification; the scallop population dwindles to only a portion of its former size and Alaska lost hundreds of millions in fish stocks (Small)

Small, Laura. “Sea Level Rise and Ocean Acidification Hurt Coastal Economies.” Sea
 Technology, vol. 55, no. 10, Oct 2014, p. 79.

Last but not Least…

Recent findings suggest that ocean acidification may even intensify the effects of climate change

For context, The Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) has found that ocean waters higher in acidity produce more Nitrous Oxide (NO2) into the atmosphere as a byproduct (Irving). Like Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide is a toxic greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and warming.

Irving Michael. “Acidic Oceans May Release More Nitrous Oxide into the Atmosphere”. New
 Atlas,  12 Nov. 2019, 
newatals.com/environment/ocean-acidification-nitrous-oxide-atmosphere/. 

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Needless to say, our planet needs our help! For the good of humanity, it would be in everyone’s best interest to reduce their emissions that contribute to ocean acidification.