Commentary on Ocean Acidification Ellycia R Harrould-Kolieb and Dorothée Herr co-wrote the article Ocean Acidification and Climate Change: Synergies and Challenges of Addressing both under the UNFCCC which was published in the 2012 Journal of Climate Policy. The article describes how the release of climate-change-causing carbon dioxide into our atmosphere is causing ocean acidification but through international policies the effects of ocean acidification can be mitigated. Since the 18th century Industrial Revolution, approximately 1.6 trillion tons of carbon dioxide have been added to the atmosphere through the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation (Harrould-Kolieb and Herr 378). The world’s oceans have absorbed approximately 30% of that carbon dioxide. This absorption has been beneficial in keeping that 30% out of the atmosphere, where it causes Climate Change, but it has a negative impact on water quality. When carbon dioxide reacts with water, it forms carbonic acid. In the oceans, carbonic acid releases hydrogen ions which increase the acidity of the water. Because of human action, the acidity of the ocean has risen 30% since pre-industrial times and by 2050 ocean acidity is projected to be the highest in 20 million years (Harrould-Kolieb and Herr 379). This carbon dioxide influx is threatening marine life. Coral reefs serve as crucial habitat for 25% of marine species. The increased acidity of the water is causing a decrease in coral skeletal growth. If current carbon dioxide emission trends continue, net coral reefs may begin to dissolve by the end of the century (Harrould-Kolieb and Herr 380). In addition to increasing ocean acidity, the hydrogen ions released by carbonic acid also react with carbonate ions. Low t... ... middle of paper ... ...eyond command control and provide market based solutions to climate change. These mechanisms were established under Kyoto, and with the involvement of the top dozen emitters, they can significantly decrease emissions. The mechanisms would include Cap and Trade which creates a market for carbon dioxide leading to innovation and incentive to cut emissions. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) would encourage developed states to build renewable energy projects in developing states because they would earn carbon credits which they could sell on the Cap and Trade carbon market. CDM would also lower the cost of renewable energy because on top of the sale of energy companies would also profit off the carbon credits (Snow 133). These measures could effectively address climate change internationally because they would limit the span of different interests among parties.
In the atmosphere carbon dioxide is chemically neutral, however when it dissolves in seawater it reacts with H2O to form a weak carbonic acid. Over recent years, oceans have become more acidic because of the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The acidity of the ocean is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions which are then measured on a pH scale – where the greater the level of hydrogen ions, the lower the pH (Askins, 2008). As the pH of the ocean drops from the pre-industrial value of 8.2 to 7.8 by 2020, ocean acidification is predicted to have a great effect on the ocean. Many of the aquatic organisms are very sensitive to the acidity of water, and as a result there will be effects at all levels of the marine food web (Balch & Utgoff, 2009). The carbonate shells of marine animals for example can dissolve in acidic waters. Also coral reefs will also be impacted negatively by increased acidity in addition to the effect that warmer waters are already having on them (McCarty, Wolfenbarger,
As certain types of pollution damages our atmosphere, our natural protection from the sun weakens and as a result the Earth gets warmer with time, impacting the temperature of our seas. The unfortunate results of global warming and the co...
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
Carbon dioxide disturbs ecosystems candidly, both positively and negatively. On land it increases growth in various trees and plants, an influence occasionally called ‘CO2 fertilisation’. Absorption of CO2 into the oceans triggers ‘ocean acidification’, obstructing shell formation by organisms like corals and affecting coral deterioration or
The ocean has always absorbed CO2 from the air. An article presented in Nature August 2012 enlightens that about half of all CO2 generated by human is absorbed by the ocean. This chemical reaction is occurring naturally and the rate at which carbon is being absorbed, the concentration of carbonic acid is increasing. This has overwhelming concerns, particularly for shelled creatures. Animals such as corals, crabs, and calms need calcium carbonate to build their shells. Calcium Carbonate is dissolved by carbonic acid and consequently these animals are incapable of maintaining casings of calcium. Bio geosciences in 2010, suggested that carbon confiscation by oceans and land is lessening, which has the potential to further worsen the impact of carbon emissions.
The reduction in photosynthesising biomass led to an increased reliance on the Worlds other carbon sink, Oceans. Between 26-44% of CO2 in the atmosphere is absorbed by oceans by photosynthesising organisms, mainly phytoplankton (Archer, D. and Pierrehumbert, R., 2011), seawater chemically reacts with aqueous Carbon Dioxide, one of the end products is Hydrogen ions (H+) (NOAA, 2013). The increased concentration of H+ results in the ocean becoming more acidic, since pH is determined by concentration of Hydrogen ions.
is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere
Some studies have found “that atmospheric CO2 concentration is approximately 383 parts per million by volume (ppmv), a level not seen in at least 650,000 years, and it is projected to increase by 0.5% per year throughout the 21st century.” (Guinotte) “This is because…the ocean absorbs about a third of fossil fuel emissions, but this amount is likely to increase to 90% in the future.” (Bralower) As a result, “the chemistry of the world's oceans is changing at a rate not seen for 65 million years, with far-reaching implications for marine biodiversity and food security, according to a new United Nations study...” (Knight) “…This change is cause for serious concern [for] many marine organisms…, [because they] may not be able to adapt quickly enough to survive these changes.” (Guinotte)
Currently, pollutants are destroying the environment and harming the health of U.S. citizens. Global warming threatens to change the lifestyle of many people around the world. Industries across the globe and goods that use or contain harmful contaminants have been the largest contributors to climate change. In recent years, there has been “artificially heightened levels of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere” and a dramatic increase in other pollutants, “resulting in an unnatural upward trend in global warming” (Global). The level of pollutants currently in the air is not considered to be linked to the earth’s natural cycle. In fact, for the past century, “human activities…have increased the atmospheric concentration of CO2 to levels far higher than any measured for at least 800,000 years” and the concentration of CO2 is becoming a devastating and possibly irreversible problem with each day (Global). Although some...
Our Earth consists of many of many different components, such as land, animals, air, etc. and lately a lot of our attention has been brought to pollution and the state in which our Earth and atmosphere is in. Our ocean covers seventy one percent of the earth’s total surface area and plays a major role in our Earth’s atmosphere. (Hoegh-Guldberg, 2010) Acidification has been one of the many components that has been leading to the destruction of our surrounding oceans. (Doney, 2008)
Ocean acidification is caused due to rising CO2 emissions created by industrial development and greenhouse gases. This increase in carbon dioxide causes changes within the ocean’s biochemistry. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are expected to rise from pre-industrial level of 280 to 540-970 ppm by the year 2100, depending on future emission scenarios (IPCC, 2001). Eventually the oceans will become highly acidic if mankind is unable to control their CO2 emissions. About 30% of CO2 emissions are taken up by the oceans today (Freely et al. 2004) and this percentage will continue to rise if nothing is done to prevent it, potentially leading to enhanced levels of ultraviolet radiation at the earth’s surface (Harley, C. D. G., et al, 2006). While many marine organisms have adapted to thermal fluctuations in the last few million years, the expected changes in pH are higher than any other pH changes inferred from the fossil record over the past 200–300 million years (Caldeira & Wickett 2003; Feelyet al. 2004). The following diagram represents the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the oceans causing increased CO2, decreased pH, sea level rise, storm frequency and potential upwelling.
Climate change: it has become a touchy subject in today’s society. Some claim that it “isn’t real or isn’t happening” despite the overwhelming evidence that proves it is affecting the planet. Human activity has led to a startling increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. For the past 650,000 years, the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide had been relatively steady, never reaching above 300 parts per million. In the past 50 or so years, the rate has skyrocketed from 315 to 400 parts per million. The rate in which carbon dioxide is increasing will prove to be catastrophic if it continues on its current path as it has already affected many ecosystems, and in particular, the ocean. The increase in carbon dioxide has two major effects on the
Most of the past century’s warming is due to humans releasing heat-trapping gases, also known as greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere. One of the major emitted greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2) and it has considerably increased since the industrial revolution began. Greenhouse gases can be released in a variety of ways, such as the burning of fossil fuels, gasoline, or deforestation. Rising carbon dioxide has driven an increase in the ocean’s temperature which can lead to many different factors that place a stress on coral reefs, such as coral bleaching, sea level rise, or ocean acidification. Coral reef ecosystems are one of the most sensitive ecosystems to climate change (“United States Coral Reef Task Force”, 1999). Zooxanthellae is a symbiotic algae that lives in the coral’s tissue and when water temperatures get too hot, the algae begin to photosynthesize at a faster rate. The byproducts from this process put a strain on the corals. Thereby, the corals drive out the algae and begin to turn white because the algae are the reason why corals have color. This is called coral “bleaching” (Shazer, Liz). In addition, warmer waters slow down the process of coral calcification. Once carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere, the ocean absorbs it and produces carbonic acid by combining it with water.
Oceans are one of the most difficult areas to measure and take data from in our environment. However, we must first explore whether the oceans are actually being affected by global warming or not. Scientists have tried to use computerized models of our Earth’s oceans in order to make predictions on global warming effects. Teams of oceanographers have also been compiling ocean temperature readings from 1948 to 1996 in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. The study done by this team came to the conclusion that ocean temperatures below 300 meters have been raised a tenth of a degree Fahrenheit since the 1950s. Also, closer to the surface, ocean waters have increased in temperature by about 0.5 degrees (Pawelski, 2000). The principal author of this study and chief of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ocean Climate Laboratory, Sydney Levitus, said, “These temperature changes may seem small, but they represent very large changes in heat content of the ocean, and this heat will eventually find it its way back to the atmosphere.” (Pawelski, 2000). Thus, although these temperature changes in the ocean seem small, they can have quite a large effect on our Earth’s atmosphere. Levitus also mentions that a large portion of global warming that seems to be absent in our atmosphere is actually in our oceans. We have found the “missing warming” in our oceans and now it is necessary that we try to reduce it (Kerr, 2000). From Levitus’ study alone and also from recent att...
As time progresses, climate change continues to grow and negatively affect the world that we live in. The planet’s climate is constantly alternating but is currently unstable and compared to the past, the current warming is rapidly increasing. Due to climate change, there in an increased amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere which causes the oceans to become more acidic. The growing process of acidification can cause major problems for the world’s coral reefs by preventing corals from developing a calcified skeleton, which is crucial for their survival. Climate change causes water temperature to warm up which cause stress on corals since they are sensitive to temperature change. If water temperatures are higher than