Ocean Acidification
The entire world exists in form of a balance that when altered, creates a catastrophe. This balance is crucial for the survival of all the flora and fauna evident on the earth’s surface. Naturally, the ocean is supposed to be alkaline. This is crucial for the survival of all the creatures that exist in it. The alkalinity of the ocean is at a threat due to the steady change in the pH levels of the ocean. Ocean acidification is to be taken with the same concern as other climate concerns like global warming. The current rates of carbon emissions are the ones that are responsible for the changes in pH levels in the ocean hence leading to the acidification of the ocean (Sabine, 2004).
The ocean absorbs a good percentage of the carbon dioxide that is present in the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide is mainly from the burning of fossil fuels by man as a way of obtaining energy. The current increase in demand for energy leads to more and more burning of these fossil fuels and hence the increase in the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The excess carbon dioxide is later absorbed by the oceans and thereby resulting into a decrease of the pH levels of the ocean. This is what is referred to as acidification.
The dropping of the pH levels of the ocean can be dated back to the industrial revolution. All the past occurrences have been because of volcanic eruptions. The recent rates of change in the pH levels of the ocean are unprecedented. If these changes continue to occur exponentially, then the biodiversity and marine life is not expected to last for the next fifty years. The acidification of the ocean will result in the total obliteration of the scenic and beneficial coral reefs. The ocean’s ecosystem is also bound to be disrupted leading to the disruption of entire food chains. This disruption will affect everything whose existence is dependent on the ocean both directly and indirectly (Pearson & Palmer, 2000).
The ocean absorbs and dissolves the carbon dioxide that is present in the atmosphere. This chemical reaction results in the formation of a weak carbonic acid with the release hydrogen ions into the solution. The acidity of a solution is measured by taking into account the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution. When the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution is high, then the solution is considered more acidic. On the other hand, when the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution is low, then the solution is considered less acidic.
Since close to seventy-eight percent of the entire world’s surface is covered by water, any changes in the ecosystems in the ocean are bound to have significant effects in the whole world. Current statistics show that that if the current acidification rates are left unchecked, then the entire oceanic ecosystem is not bound to last the next fifty years. This means that whole communities will be affected, as there are communities that solely depend on marine life for survival. The situation can be salvaged by putting a check on the current carbon dioxide emissions. Man ought to abandon relying on energy sources that harm the ecosystem. Man ought to switch to sources of energy that do not damage the environment. These include wind, solar, geothermal et al. Investment ought to be done on these sources to abandon the sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy (Bijma & Turk, 2009).
References
Bijma, J., & Turk, D. (January 01, 2009). Impacts of ocean acidification. Science Policy Briefing, 1-12.
Pearson, P. N., & Palmer, M. R. (January 01, 2000). Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations over the past 60 million years. Nature, 406, 6797, 695-9.
Sabine, C. L. (July 16, 2004). The Oceanic Sink for Anthropogenic CO2. Science, 305, 5682, 367-371.
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