Ocean Acidification

Ocean Acidification

EPA

pH Scale

• pH Scale measures acidity

• Pure water has pH of 7• Lower pH is acidic• Higher pH is basic

• Logarithmic scale:• Each step is 10x more acidic or basic

Natural Carbon CyclePlants take in carbon from carbon dioxide during photosynthesis

Animals take in carbon by eating plants

Animals release carbon dioxide by breaking down carbohydrates to release their energy

Carbon Sequestration – The process of removing carbon from the carbon cycle.

Plants that are buried before they are eaten remove carbon, while volcanos emit carbon dioxide

Burning fossil fuels addsextra CO2 to atmosphere

4 lbs of CO2 from fossilfuel adds 1 lbs ofdissolved CO2

24,000,000,000,000 lbsCO2 released from fossilfuels in 2011

As CO2 from fossil fuels is released into the atmosphere,

more CO2 dissolves in the ocean to maintain dynamic equilibrium

Human CausedCO2 in the Environment

Ocean Acidification

Ocean Acidification: Dissolved CO2 reacts to form carbonic acid, lowering the ocean’s pH

As more CO2 is added to the air, more dissolves into the ocean and more converts to H2CO3

Effects of Ocean Acidification

NOAA

Right: Healthy pteropodwith clear shell

Far right: Shell partiallydissolved by ocean acidification

At today’s CO2 emissions rate, ocean pH will drop from 8.2 to 7.9 by year 2100 - NOAA

Effects on shells

Far left: Healthy coral in “normal” water

Left: Dead coral in acidic waters offPuerto Rico

Effects on corals

Summary

• pH Scale• Natural Carbon Cycle• Human Caused CO2

• Ocean Acidificaiton• Effects of Ocean Acidification