Welcome back Explorers!

Today we will be talking about Ocean Acidification. If you recall from secondary school biology, oceans and seas are what they call “carbon sinks” which means they take in a lot of the Earth’s carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (carbon sources that emit carbon). This is a naturally occuring process however, the rate at which carbon dioxide is emitted in the air today is causing ocean acidity to increase. Hence the name, “Ocean Acidification” – ongoing decrease of pH.

The carbon dioxide merge will mix with the water molecules and form carbonic acid (H2CO3) which will then break off into bicarbonate ions and hydrogen atoms. And an increase in the amount of hydrogen atoms = an increase in acidity (decrease in pH). This also starves marine organisms that require carbonate to form their shells (crustaceans, coral, shellfish, snails etc).

Here’s a simple infographic for a better idea. Ocean Acidification is a natural process, bear in mind, but the rate at which its occuring now is what’s called Enhanced Ocean Acidification.

(clicking on the image will lead you to the original article about Ocean Acidification, if you’re interested)

 

That’s all for today, stay tuned for the next post. Let’s just say it takes more than two hands to make something happen 😉

Sea you all real soon!