ocean acidification/ carbon dioxide emissions

Ocean acidification.

• Ocean acidification is the process of rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere caused by industrial emissions; normally, more than two thirds of our planet is covered by oceans, which also provide food for over a billion people and up to half of the oxygen we breathe. Our biggest carbon story also involves the ocean. 

• Nearly a third of the carbon dioxide we emit is absorbed by ocean-dwelling organisms, which helps to slow down global warming. The cost of absorbing all this carbon dioxide is paid by the oceans. The gas reacts with the water it dissolves in to create carbonic acid. Ocean acidity has increased by 30% in the last 200 years, and scientists anticipate that it will continue to rise as carbon dioxide levels rise. This is harmful to marine life. 

fossil fuels.

• The biggest issue that society accuses fossil fuels of causing is climate change, and  air pollution but they also cause a number of other issues, such as ocean acidification, which is somewhat dangerous because fossil fuels increase carbon dioxide, which harms marine life.

Deforestation.

• Deforestation is the clearing of forested land, which is also thought to be a major factor in the rise of carbon dioxide levels that contribute to ozone depletion. It is frequently brought on by natural fires, like the infamous Amazon fires, which resulted in\ numerous losses that cannot be measured or felt, including deaths, the extinction of rare animals, and ongoing air pollution to this day.

emissions from automobiles.

• Given that we live in the age of the automobile, the rising levels of vehicle emissions are not surprising. Let's define what emissions from automobiles mean. substances that the car's internal combustion releases into the environment. As the number of cars increased rapidly in our time, so did car emissions. This emission causes a rise in carbon dioxide, which causes the oceans to become more acidic. how CO2 alters ocean chemistry.

ph. scale.

• I am aware that the majority of students dislike chemistry and avoid this class because it is challenging, but let's return to a private secondary school and a chemistry class. We don't get into the nitty-gritty, but there are a few things that need to be made clear in order to comprehend ocean acidification. I know it's complicated, but if you focus well and pay close attention, you'll understand everything.

• We must first balance an equation and attempt to comprehend the ph. scale. An indicator of a solution's acidity or alkalinity is the ph. scale. Let's measure on a scale of 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. The ph. scale would be seven if the substance were natural, such as pure water, which is neither acidic nor alkaline.

carbon emission.

• The atmosphere contains carbon dioxide, which gets into the water. As the CO2 breaks down, a chemical reaction occurs in which the CO2 and water combine to form carbonic acid. Several things happen when carbonic acid is present in the water. Each carbonic acid molecule can first release one of its hydrogen ions to form a substance known as a bicarbonate, which can then further break down into a carbonate ion.

•  The primary issue is that both of these molecules were created by hydrogen ions that were lost and are now causing havoc in the water. Remember when we talked about hydrogen ions? As a result, the acidity will increase, and the oceans are moving closer to becoming acidic than they were before industrialization.

How do seashells develop?

• Many marine organisms depend heavily on the building material calcium carbonate, which dissolves in seawater and is created by the reaction of adding calcium atoms to carbonate ions. Examples of these organisms include corals, mollusks, and crabs, all of which use calcium carbonate to build their skeletons. 

• Unfortunately, those active, highly reactive hydrogen ions are also recombining with these free carbonate ions to create molecular bicarbonate. Because there is less calcium carbonate available for organisms to use, it is harder for organisms with calcium carbonate skeletons to maintain them because they cannot get enough calcium carbonate to grow or repair their shells and skeletons.

The consequences of ocean acidification for marine life.

• Because it is much harder for marine animals to make their shells when carbon dioxide dissolves in ocean water, the water becomes more acidic than it was before. As a result, many marine animals experience a decline in survival or reproduction.

Is ocean acidification a result of human activity?