Unprecedented, Human-Made Trends in Ocean's Acidity

Unprecedented, Human-Made Trends in Ocean's Acidity

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120122152542.htm

Summary- Nearly one third of CO2 emissions due to human activities enters the world's oceans. By reacting to seawater CO2 increases the waters acidity. This may reduce the calcification rate of such marine organisms as corals and mollusks. The extent to which human activities have raised the surface level of acidity however is has been difficult to detect on regional scales because it varies naturally from one season and one year to the next. Also between regions and direct observations go back only 30 years.

Critique- With nearly one third of CO2 enters the world’s oceans is a big fraction of CO2. With it being difficult to detect on regional scales which just makes it hard for the researchers to do their work.

Impact- This effects the CO2 increase of the water acidity and that this may reduce the calcification rate of such marine organisms as corals and mollusks.