The Effects of Increased Atmospheric CO2

1648 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects of global warming on the ecosystem

Deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels have led to a great increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Since the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of atmospheric CO2 has increased from about 280 parts per million to above 390 parts per million; and recently has been calculated to be rising 1.5-2 parts per million per year (Kudela, 2013). This sharp increase in atmospheric CO2 has had an impact on the ocean, and can be seen by the increase in the levels of gaseous CO2 in the seawater. When the CO2 rich atmosphere comes in contact with the surface of the ocean, CO2 is readily absorbed which causes the pH of seawater to become more acidic. Many enzymes and processes that occur in the ocean, like test building, are pH sensitive (Calderia, 2003). Any change in the pH would result in the breakdown of important functions to which the outcome is uncertain. Many marine organisms, such as corals, algae, and pretty much anything with a shell, rely on CaCO3 to form their hard parts. An increase in ocean acidity causes this CaCO3 to rapidly dissolve, and makes it generally harder for these organisms to build their calcifying parts (Kleypas, 1999). If we maintain this current rate of CO2 increase, the pH of the ocean is expected to decrease by 0.5 by 2100 (Kudela, 2013). Although there are still those who refuse to believe that the rising levels of CO2 have an adverse effect on the environment, one cannot argue that there isn’t evidence for ocean acidification. If we don’t get on the same page now, there may be a day when you go on vacation to Hawaii and there are no longer and beautiful corals or their fishes to see while snorkeling. When it comes to ocean acidification, the media typicall... ... middle of paper ... ...Newsom, L. A. (2013). The impact of ocean acidification on the functional morphology of Foraminifera. PLoS ONE, 8(12), 1-4. Kleypas, J. A. (1999). Geochemical Consequences of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide on Coral Reefs. Science, 284(5411), 118-120. Kudela, R., & Sverdrup, K. (2013). The Chemistry of Seawater. Ocean Sciences (pp. 141-144). USA: McGraw-Hill Education. Le Quesne, W. J., & Pinnegar, J. K. (2012). The potential impacts of ocean acidification: scaling from physiology to fisheries. Fish & Fisheries, 13(3), 333-344. Nienhuis, S.; Palmer, A.; Harley, C. (2010). "Elevated CO2 affects shell dissolution rate but not calcification rate in a marine snail". Proceedings of the Royal Society B 277 (1693): 2553–2558. Roleda, M. Y., Boyd, P. W., & Hurd, C. L. (2012). Before ocean acidification: calcifier chemistry lesson. Journal of Phycology, 48(4), 840-843.

Show More
Related

  • ocean acidification

    1828 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...oceans. Anthropogenic systems such as the combustion of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution have greatly increased the rate of acidification to levels where negative impacts ensue. Negative impacts occur both to marine organisms that rely on certain water conditions to maintain vital functions and the environment which is damaged by highly acidic waters. There is great variation in the acidity of each of the oceans, differences caused by the chemical composition of the ocean and biogeography. Understanding of the potential impacts of ocean acidification is relatively new to the scientific community and therefore little is known on how to counteract anthropogenic influences. Although reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced will in turn reduce the lowering of the oceans acidity levels and reduce negative impacts on the environment and marine organisms.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Impact Of Climate Change On Coral Reef

    789 Words  | 2 Pages

    Climate change has been affecting coral reefs in a negative way. If the climate continues to get warmer more of our coral reef become bleached, the structure of the reefs will become weak, and algae that keeps coral healthy will die. In the essay, “A framework for understanding Climate change impacts on Coral Reefs” by Joshua Clinner (2016), he emphasizes our climate change has become one of the long-term threats to coral reef. The article “Climate change and human impacts are damaging the world’s coral reefs”, which didn’t include an author (2001), states that the sea temperatures throughout the tropics has increased dramatically leaving much of the coral unhealthy. Spencer Hall (2008), discussed in his article “Coral Reefs and Climate Change”, how the increase in climate change puts a lot of stress on coral reefs because they are very sensitive to the change of temperature. Rigel B (2003) states in his essay, “Climate Change and Coral Reefs”, that coral reef has already been negatively impacted by

    Read More

  • Ecosystem In The Florida Ecosystem

    777 Words  | 2 Pages

    Given how important coral reefs are, the increasingly disappearance of our coral reef ecosystems will continue to have a detrimental impact on marine biodiversity with in these ecosystems. In addition to the decline of the animal species, job opportunities for many staff members that keep our parks open and healthy for everyone to enjoy, revenue be lost due to the decline in coral reefs. To help ensure this downward spiral in eliminated before it is too late, park officials and scientist conduct continuous research on the effects of ocean acidification and global warming on marine organisms and overall health and longevity of these ecosystems. Ultimately, the goal is to develop ways to intervene before it is to late in hopes that we can reverse the damage already inflicted on our coral reefs and allow these ecosystems to re grow once

    Read More

  • Ocean Acidification: The Chemistry Of The Oceans

    928 Words  | 2 Pages

    Even though the study of the deterioration of pteropods in high acidity water may seem unimportant in the grand scheme of the ocean, it is crucial to start somewhere. In this case the pteropods happen to be one of the most obvious examples of marine life that will be influenced by the ocean acidification. It is without a doubt clear that ocean acidification is an up and coming problem that will change the chemistry of the ocean and not only the effect the ocean’s ecosystem and creatures, but most likely the rest of the environment as well. Even though there is copious amounts of research available concerning ocean acidification, it is unclear whether model predictions will come to fruition in the future, or if actual results will completely differ from projections. Currently, the only clear path to try to delay the progression of ocean acidification is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions exponentially. The chart below (Fig. 5) gives a concise and detailed account of what is happening, what will happen and what needs to happen if ocean acidification is going to be

    Read More

  • Acidification and the Ocean’s Changing Climate

    638 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ocean acidity will spoil marine ecosystems if it remains persistent. Preserving sustainable fishing industries will become unmanageable if the carbon dioxide absorbed by the world’s oceans is not considerably abridged.

    Read More

  • What's Causing Ocean Acidification?

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    Le Quesne, Will,J.F., and John K. Pinnegar. "The Potential Impacts of Ocean Acidification: Scaling from Physiology to Fisheries*." Fish and Fisheries 13.3 (2012): 333-44. ProQuest. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Climate Change: Climate Change And The Great Barrier Reef

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Earth’s biosphere is being affected by climate change in numerous ways. The interactions that occur between the hydrosphere and atmosphere are leading to changes in our ocean’s chemistry that could be devastating to humans in the future generations to come. Climate change is the modification in the climate patterns. The effects of climate change have become particularly apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and have been substantially contributed to by the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

    Read More

  • Coral Reefs

    3736 Words  | 8 Pages

    Many different organisms, including mollusks, sponges, and worms, help shape reefs, but hard corals and various algae are the major architects. In effect, the corals build limestone, because their skeletons are made of Calcium Carbonate. The skeletons deposited by these corals and other organisms accumulate, along with sand and other debris, to form the backbone of the reef. Over tens of thousands of years, chemical and mechanical changes turn the reef into true rock (Alstyne and Paul, 1988).

    Read More

  • Coral Reef Essay

    1970 Words  | 4 Pages

    A big change that has occurred in the oceans all over the world is the Coral Reefs are dying and are predicted to be dead by the end of the century due to the rising acidity of the oceans caused by many different threats to marine ecosystems. Coral reefs cover less than 0.2% of our oceans but they contain 25% of the world’s marine fish species according to Endangered: Biodiversity on the brink, 2010: pg.45). If this is the case that means by the time the end of the century comes around we will have lost close to 25% of the worlds marine ecosystems.

    Read More

  • Carbon Dioxide Environmental Effects

    1361 Words  | 3 Pages

    Carbon dioxide or CO2 is known to be one of a number of gases that are astonishingly transparent to the visible light that falls on the Earth from the Sun, but it absorb the infra-red radiation that emitted by the warm surface of our Earth, to prevents its loss into space. Moreover, CO2 has varied considerably and this affected the Earth’s temperature. Most common source of this CO2 is known as the fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are primarily coal, hydrocarbons, natural gas, or fuel oil that formed from the remains of the dead plants and also animals. The burning fossil fuel that has been created by humans is the largest source of emissions of the carbon dioxide.

    Read More

  • Essay On Effects Of Climate Change On Coral Reefs

    964 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rates of coral calcification on the Great Barrier Reef and many other reef systems around the world have declined by 15-20% since 1990 due to increasing thermal stress (De’ath 2012). It has already been mentioned that the oceans absorb almost all of the excess heat from climate change. This affects coral reef systems in what is known as coral bleaching. The term bleaching refers to the loss of corals’ colors. A coral’s color is the result of the zooxanthellae present.

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography Of Coral Reef Bleaching

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Baker, Andrew c. “Climate change and coral reef bleaching: An ecological assessment of long-Term impacts, recovery trends and future outlook.” Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Academic Press, 17 Sept. 2008, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771408003405.

    Read More

  • Oceans in Crisis

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.

    Read More

  • Anthropogenic Climate Change Essay

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most destructive human contribution to climate change is fossil fuels combustion, which results in the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Increased carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and halocarbons levels in the atmosphere cause an imbalance in the earth’s energy. This is because the gases alter solar radiation and thermal radiation which regulate the earth’s energy. Research indicates that anthropogenic climate change is the cause of the increased global warming over the last fifty years. 57 % of the carbon dioxide emitted is absorbed into the atmosphere while the rest is absorbed into the oceans. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the most central greenhouse gas that is associated with global warming (Eby, Zickfield, Montenegro, Archer, Meissner, & Weaver,

    Read More

  • We Can Stop Climate Change

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    The burning of fossil fuels has greatly harmed our environment and is a leading cause as to why climate change has become such a threat to our way of living. In May of 2013, the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached 400 parts per million, an increase of more than 40 percent since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. This could cause the Arctic Ocean to be nearly ice-free during the summer by 2020(Overland and Wang, 2013).

    Read More

More about The Effects of Increased Atmospheric CO2

Open Document