How Ocean Acidification is impacting the World?

Now a days, oceanacidification has become a major problem and it is growing rapidly. Ocean acts as a natural carbon sink and absorb more than half of the CO₂ emitted in the atmosphere. Earlier, scientists thought that this might be beneficial for the planet to reduce the Greenhouse effect, as it leaves less carbon dioxide in the air. Moreover, they didn’t care about rising acidification in the Oceans because they thought that rivers carried enough dissolved chemicals from rocks providing buffer to ocean’s pH. Unfortunately, this is not the case as carbon dioxide is dissolving into the oceans so rapidly that this natural buffering has not been able to keep up, corresponding to rapidly decreasing pH in ocean’s surface waters. As those surface layers slowly mixed into deep water, the entire ocean is affected. Taking into account the great diversity of life in the oceans, increased acidification can harm the marine life in different ways. There are various effects of ocean acidification on marine life, economy, humans and ecosystems, which are discussed below.

Impacts on marine life

1.    Coral reefs: Coral reefs are considered to be the most biodiverse ecosystem on the earth after rain forest. They are also called as the Marine Rain Forests. Ocean acidification negatively affects the coral reefs as their skeletons and shells build from calcium carbonate. Acidification decreases the availability of carbonate ions in ocean water, which provide the building blocks these organisms need to make their shells and skeletons, significantly reducing the likelihoods for their offspring to survive. The rising concentration of carbon dioxide in oceans also leads in increasing seawater temperature, causing coral bleaching. Coral bleaching occurs when the corals expel the colourful, photosynthetic algae that normally live inside their bodies and provide them with food and becomes white in colour. These algae disappear when the reefs are exposed to stressful climatic conditions, such as when temperature gets too high. The possible recovery of such bleaching events is hindered due to the declining calcification rates on reefs caused by ocean acidification.

2.    Oyesters, Mussels, Urchins and Starfish: Just like corals, these animals also are going to have trouble in more acidic conditions. Mussels and oysters are expected to grow less shell by 25 percent and 10 percent respectively by the end of this century. Urchins and starfish also build their shell-like parts from high-magnesium calcite, a type of calcium carbonate that dissolves even more speedily than the aragonite form of calcium carbonate that corals use. This means a weaker shell for these organisms, increasing the chance of being crushed or eaten.

3.    Petropods: Tiny swimming sea snails called pteropods or “sea butterfly” are considered as the ‘potato chips of the sea’ as they serve as a critical part of the arctic marine food web, ultimately feeding whales and a food source for North Pacific juvenile Salmon. Pteropod shells are expected to dissolve in acidity levels predicted by the end of this century and may not be able to survive.

4.    Squids and Fishes: Ocean acidification also have detrimental effects on squids and fishes and increases carbonic acid concentration in their body fluids. This condition, known as acidosis, may cause problems with the animal’s respiration as well as with growth and reproduction.

 

Impacts on humans and economy

Changes in marine ecosystems will have direct impact on human societies, which depend on the goods and services these ecosystems offer. The implications for society could include substantial revenue losses, loss of employment and livelihoods, and other indirect economic costs.

v  Food: Molluscs such as oysters and mussels are among the most sensitive groups affected by ocean acidification. By 2100, the global annual costs of mollusc loss from ocean acidification could be over US$100 billion.

v  Coastal protection: Marine ecosystems such as coral reefs protect shorelines from the destructive action of storm surges and cyclones, sheltering the only habitable land for several island nations. This protective function of reefs inhibits loss of life, property damage, and erosion, and has been valued at US$9 billion per year.

v  Tourism:  This industry could be severely affected by the impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems (e.g. coral reefs).  In Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park attracts about 1.9 million visits each year and generates more than $5.4 billion to the Australian economy.

v  Carbon storage and climate regulation: The capacity of the ocean to absorb CO₂ decreases as ocean acidification increases. More acidic oceans are less effective in moderating climate change.

 

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