What is Ocean Acidification?

The term ocean acidification is used to describe the ongoing decrease in ocean pH caused by human CO2 emissions, such as the burning of fossil fuels. It is the little known consequence of living in a high CO2 world, dubbed as the “evil twin of climate change”.

Open
Tags: Carbon Emissions Climate Change Global carbon cycle Ocean Acidification Society
What is Ocean Acidification?

Related Resources

What Is Blue Carbon and Why Does It Matter?
 Though terrestrial forests typically get most of the attention, they are not the only ecosystems that possess a natural ability to fight climate change. There are three coastal ecosystems that are als[...]
Tags: Blue CarbonBlue ForestsEcosystem Benefitsmangroves
2020 Was One of Three Warmest Years on Record
 The year 2020 was one of the three warmest on record, and rivalled 2016 for the top spot, according to a consolidation of five leading international datasets by the World Meteorological Organization ([...]
Tags: Carbon EmissionsClimate ChangeGlobal carbon cycleOcean Acidification
Beyond Plastic Waste
 With more than 8 million tons of plastic entering the ocean each year, humanity must urgently rethink the way we make and use plastics, so that they do not become waste in the first place. Cheap, ligh[...]
Tags: marine plasticoceanplastic wastePollution
Protecting Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
 Ecosystem services are the engine of the environment. They are essential to life. Land, water, air, climate and genetic resources must be used responsibly if they are to also benefit future generation[...]
Tags: cultural servicesEcosystem Benefitsprovisional servicesregulating services
A New Generation of Ocean Farmers are Reducing Pollution with Seaweed
 Seaweed soaks up carbon and nitrogen, two pollutants lingering in the water. If ocean farmers devoted a little less than 5 percent of U.S. waters to growing seaweed, they could clean up an estimated 1[...]
Tags: Ecosystem BenefitsKelpPollutionprovisional services
Marine Pollution Potentially Mitigated by Kelp Farms
 Emerging research from the University of Alaska Fairbanks suggests that implementing kelp farms may be an effective strategy for combatting the growing problem of marine pollution. The university stud[...]
Tags: Ecosystem BenefitsKelpKelp forestsPollution
Marine Life Cycles
 Although at the surface the ocean can appear calm and quiet, in fact there is an enormous amount of life activity taking place, particularly at certain times of the year. [...]
Tags: Blue Forestscoastal and marine ecosystemsocean basicsOcean Literacy
5 “Blue Forests” That are Vital to Life on Earth
 When you think of a forest, chances are you picture trees rising high above you, leaves crunching underfoot. But there are some very different types of forest – in and under the water – th[...]
Tags: Blue CarbonBlue ForestsEcosystem BenefitsKelp