Ocean acidification: What is, causes and consequences

The acidification of the oceans consists of a set of chemical reactions that take place by the CO2 absorption by seawater and that cause an increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions, which entails an increase in Water acidity and a decrease in the relative amount of carbonate ions.

Ocean acidification is global and affects both coastal estuaries and channels. The ocean absorbs about 30% of CO2 released in the atmosphere, so that, as carbon dioxide levels increase in it, so do the levels of this gas in the ocean.

Ocean acidification is directly caused by the Increase in CO2 concentrations Of anthropic origin issued to the atmosphere because, as mentioned above, the ocean absorbs about 30% of those emissions. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (more than two centuries ago), the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased due to the burning of fossil fuels and change of land use, and the pH of surface oceanic waters has decreased by 0.1 pH units, which, being a logarithmic scale, implies an increase of approximately 30% in the seawater acidity.

There are scientific indications, which are still being investigated, that they claim that if a continuation in this absorption of carbon dioxide by seawater, at the end of this century the pH of superficial marine waters will increase 150% with respect to the current one, which would represent the repetition of a scenario already disappeared more than 20 million years ago.

With the dissolution of CO2 in seawater, carbonic acid is generated, which decreases the pH of water And it changes environmental conditions, thus causing the acidification of the environment, which affects different marine organisms. These are the main consequences of ocean acidification.

• On the one hand, photosynthetic algae and marine herbs can be benefited by the increase in carbon dioxide concentration in water, since they depend on this to survive.
• On the other hand, the Carbonate ions They are the fundamental pieces in the manufacture of calcareous structures such as shells and skeletons, so their decrease in the environment can cause the creation and maintenance of both new and existing calcareous structures to be difficult in organisms such as clams, oysters, deep and superficial waters, sea cucumber or calcareous plankton. In addition, non -calcifying marine organisms can also be affected by this Change in seawater chemistryas in the case of certain fish, whose ability to detect predators in more acidic waters can be reduced and, when these organisms are in danger, the entire food network can be in danger.
• People are also affected by ocean acidification Well, there are many economies that depend on fish and shellfish fishing and many millions of people depend on the foods obtained from the oceans as the main source of protein in their diets, so that both food safety and the health and work of many people who depend on life in the sea would be harmed by this process.

It seems logical to think that solution to ocean acidification It has to fall on the decrease in carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, as this will decrease the amount of CO2 absorbed by the oceans and help to alleviate the unpredictable consequences that this fact could entail. There are scientific evidence that claim that, to achieve good ocean health, the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide should be remarkably less than 400 ppm, a limit that has already been exceeded.

To conclude this article on what is the acidification of the oceans, their causes and consequences, we present some solutions that could serve to eliminate this process:

Inform more about ocean acidification

Give voice to this problem through environmental organizations, the Government and the media because, even in the case of an environmental priority, it continues to be relatively unknown to much of the population. It is important to create a collective awareness to grant, as a society, the urgency that it deserves, since its consequences could be catastrophic, as in the case of mass extinction.

Reduce carbon footprint

Actions such as reducing meat consumption and that, the amount that is consumed, is sustainable production, since the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all forms of transport combined, being the most important cause of climate change and, therefore, of the acidification of the oceans. Another way to reduce carbon footprint is to reduce energy consumption in homes and waste less water. For these purposes, the lights can be turned off when they are not being used, hire a renewable energy supply, use shorter washing cycles in the washing machine or give shorter showers, among other things. It is also important to make greater use of public transport and reduce the use of private cars and airplanes. We also reduce the ecological footprint by reducing the consumption of plastics, such as avoiding single -use plastics such as in bottles of water, straws, bags and dishes of using and throwing and recycling all the plastics that are used. The enormous amount of waste that is discharged into the sea is one of the biggest problems that contribute the most to the acidification of the oceans and there are areas where these large mass of waste congregate and affect marine life.

We recommend these other ecology posts about what the carbon footprint is and how to reduce my carbon footprint.

Be conscious consumers

Actions such as not buying coral products (as they are disappearing at alarming rates) and, in general, buying less things, because their manufacture and transport entail great energy consumption. It is important to buy only when necessary, of good quality and local and sustainable production whenever possible. It is important to follow the principle of reducing, reusing, recycling and rejecting new objects to conserve energy and reduce contamination associated with greenhouse gases derived from matter extraction, manufacturing and waste management.

Learn more about these issues in these other articles in which we talk about what is responsible consumption and Zero Waste: what is and how to be.

Improve ocean management and conservation

Good management, conservation and restoration of the oceans is necessary, which is why, in 2016, during the World Congress of the Nature of the IUCN the resolution was approved to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030. Apart, in each country or community certain measures are taken for this, although in some areas more than in others.

If you want to read more articles similar to Ocean acidification: What is, causes and consequenceswe recommend that you enter our pollution category.