Ocean Acidification
Hotspots
- Human activities and the burning of fossil fuels has caused a 40% increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since the industrial revolution
- The ocean, a natural carbon sink absorbs around 30% of all anthropogenic carbon emissions
- When the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, the pH of the water changes making the ocean more acidic. This is known by scientists as "the other carbon dioxide problem"
- Since preindustrial times, the pH of the ocean has changed from 8.2 to 8.1
- Because pH is measured logarithmically, this decrease signifies a 26% increase in hydrogen ion concentration in the ocean
- It is projected that pH could decrease an additional 0.3 - 0.4 pH units
Hotspots
- Ocean acidification hotspots are places or timeframes where pH has decreased significantly relative to historic baselines
- Coastal waters are particularly susceptible to ocean acidification due to upwelling that brings CO2-rich waters to the surface
- River outlets are also susceptible to ocean acidification because they deposit nutrients from anthropogenic sources into the ocean further contributing to acidification