Ocean’s acidification and why it’s important

By | November 14, 2008

One of the biggest sinks of atmospheric CO2 is the oceans.  If these levels increase in the atmosphere, the dissolved CO2 levels in the oceans also increase significantly.  When dissolved CO2 levels increases, acid levels in the oceans increase as well.  What does this mean to us?  Here’s what Oceana has to say:

ocean acidification, reduces the ability of marine animals such as corals, crabs, lobsters, clams and oysters to create calcium carbonate skeletons and shells, which will likely reduce their survival rates, and their ability to mature and reproduce. Such a decline and widespread death of coral reefs will cost society billions of dollars annually in lost fishing and tourism revenue and will jeopardize the coastal protection services that coral reefs otherwise provide.

Here’s another link about this issue. Link.

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