How it Works
When carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, a large portion of it is absorbed into the ocean, and partially into the land. In fact, about 1/3 of man-made CO2 has been absorbed over time by Earth’s oceans. This service of the oceans is known to have slowed the global warming that the greenhouse gas would have induced if they had stayed and accumulated in the atmosphere alone. Unfortunately, scientists have discovered relatively recently that the massive increase in the absorption of CO2 is altering the chemical balance of the oceans, making it more acidic.
When carbon dioxide gas (CO2) is absorbed into the ocean, it bonds with the water molecules and carbonate ions, forming two bicarbonate ions. Although these chemical reactions have occurred in the ocean for millions of years, the recent extreme increases of carbon dioxide in the air are so extensive that it has caused the global reduction of seawater pH, more importantly the reduction of carbonate ion concentrations in the water, and therefore of calcium carbonate minerals. Researchers have found that these drastic chemical changes, especially the under saturation of calcium carbonate in the water, is affecting the growth of many marine organisms, especially those who require calcium carbonate to construct their shells or skeletons.
When carbon dioxide gas (CO2) is absorbed into the ocean, it bonds with the water molecules and carbonate ions, forming two bicarbonate ions. Although these chemical reactions have occurred in the ocean for millions of years, the recent extreme increases of carbon dioxide in the air are so extensive that it has caused the global reduction of seawater pH, more importantly the reduction of carbonate ion concentrations in the water, and therefore of calcium carbonate minerals. Researchers have found that these drastic chemical changes, especially the under saturation of calcium carbonate in the water, is affecting the growth of many marine organisms, especially those who require calcium carbonate to construct their shells or skeletons.