9.7 Ocean Acidification

Explain the causes and effects of ocean acidification.

• Ocean acidification is the decrease in pH of the oceans, primarily due to increased CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere, and can be expressed as chemical equations.
• As more CO₂ is released into the atmosphere, the oceans, which absorb a large part of that CO₂, become more acidic.
• Anthropogenic activities that contribute to ocean acidification are those that lead to increased CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere: burning of fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, and deforestation.
• Ocean acidification damages coral because acidification makes it difficult for them to form shells, due to the loss of calcium carbonate.
• Enduring understanding STB-4: Local and regional human activities can have impacts at the global level.