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Around 150 years ago, humans started releasing fossil fuels into the atmosphere during the industrial revolution. The ocean takes up a quarter of the gas that surrounds earth by absorbing the CO2 we put in our atmosphere. Scientist thought the ocean was a great resource for getting rid of these CO2 gases in the atmosphere; however, they didn’t know how much these gases where destroying our great ocean. NOVA’s documentary presents, Lethal Seas, a documentary of the destruction of our vast ocean, concentrating on the American northwest coast, Papua New Guinea among the volcanic islands of Milne Bay, and Aurora Australis. The documentary dresses the issue of rising acidity levels in the ocean and its effects.
Background: In Ischia Island the water around the island has been acidified for millions of years because of Mt. Vesuvius. This dormant volcano is melting chalk in the sea floor, which releases carbon dioxide into the water acidifying it. This acidification is devastating the life around the island and is still being acidified by the continuous release of CO2. We can use this as an example of what our world might look like if we continue to release carbon dioxide emissions through things such as burning fossil fuels and reducing the carbon banks such by things like deforestation.
Ocean acidification is the drop of pH in the water of the ocean. This happens when the ocean absorbs the carbon within the air directly above it. Since the industrial revolution, the pH of the ocean has dropped from 8.2 to 8.1. It also talks about the impacts ocean acidity has on ocean life, such as the bleaching of various types of coral worldwide. Fish may also succumb to the effects of ocean acidification.
Humans can cause ocean pollution when they dump sewage in the ocean or on the beach (Doc. 2). The pollution that is put in the ocean will not only affect the ocean animals but can also affect humans (Doc. 2). When a fish eats plastic or garbage it becomes toxic (Doc. 2). If a person eats that toxic fish they will be very sick
Climate changes caused by ocean acidification will not only affect animals and plants, but will have an impact on our surroundings. Global climate change threatens coastlines and the buildings and cities located along them. Many people around the world live in low–lying areas near the coast that could be flooded as the sea level rises. If something is not done to prevent excess carbon dioxide, it will leave lasting
For years it was thought that carbon dioxide absorption into the oceans would benefit the environment as it reduced the amount of greenhouse gasses present in the atmosphere. It became clear after careful observation of the oceans over time that excess carbon dioxide created a chemical reaction in the water that resulted in the release of free hydrogen in larger-than-average quantities. This led to a dramatic increase in oceanic acidity levels and became highly damaging to marine life, the chemistry of which is explained below. It is estimated that 30 to 40% of all anthropogenic carbon emitted into the atmosphere is absorbed by oceans.
When you burn fossil fuels, CO2, a chemical compound is released into the air, which rises into the atmosphere. The sun rays that reflect of the surface of the earth are filtered by the atmosphere to ensure that earth never gets to hot or cold. However, when excessive amounts of CO2, which is produced by cars, industrial facilities & power stations, and domestic and commercial activities, is in the atmosphere, the filtration of the suns rays is sent out of whack and excess heat returns to earth. This effect is called “The Greenhouse Effect” because it makes earth like a green house, trapping in all of the heat. The charts below show the percentages of contributions of greenhouse gas emissions and the regional air quality index (RAQI) of East Sydney in September
Ocean Acidification is a pressing issue that will have a major effect on the ocean in the near future. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ocean acidification is when the pH drops due to an uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This is a controversial issue because many people do not believe the ocean is becoming acidic. They believe ocean acidification is a hoax brought on by global warming to try and convince people on the dangers of climate change. This issue is important because ocean acidification posses a threat on the coral reef ecosystems, which house 25% of marine, fish species.
About thirty or forty percent of the carbon dioxide created by human activities is absorbed in bodies of water, including the ocean. What does this mean? Well the burning of fossils fuels emit excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which dissolves into the oceans and makes the ocean acidic. The ocean becoming more acidic obviously does not compare to the acidity of sulfuric acid and does not directly harm humans and most animals. The ocean is currently at a pH level of 8.1 which is more on the basic side and orange juice is actually more acidic with a pH level from 3.3 to 4.9.
Many different communities are found near different shallow shores or even high shores, the growth of photosynthesis has and increase of higher CO2 levels. Individual ecosystems such as coral reefs, the calcifying organisms form the fundamental architecture of the ecosystem so if they disappear, the ecosystem could disappear. In other ecosystems where calcifiers play a less important role, it is less clear what impact the loss of calcifying species might have on the ecosystem. During profound rapid changes in ocean chemistry like present-day ocean acidification, organisms respond in one of 3 ways: acclimation, adaptation, or extinction when this happens all things are wiped out because of all the other organisms and also they will not have any food sources because of the acid and also the basics of all the acidity. With the acid it does not kill all the animal life but does decrease the number of them depending on how they react to it, In many marine areas, organisms (calcifiers and non-calcifiers alike) are already exposed to temperatures reaching the upper end of their thermal
People are burning more and more fossil fuels everyday. Fossil fuels are natural fuels, like coal and oil. They are used to run a car, when burning wood, and using electricity. This is causing more carbon dioxide to be released into the air. Carbon dioxide is being absorbed into the ocean and when it is mixed with water it makes the acidity level higher.
30-40% of the carbon dioxide emitted from human activity released into the atmosphere finds its way into lakes, rivers, and oceans all adding to the acidity of the great waters. This increase of carbon dioxide intake is causing the ocean to become more acidic. The ocean's acidity has increased by around 30% since the industrial revolution. This affects every single one of the oceans. More specifically the Arctic, Antarctic, Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic ocean.
About 71 percent of our planet Earth is covered by water, and the majority comes from the oceans (about 96.5 percent of all Earth’s water). It remains as the most expansive, diverse, and mysterious places on planet Earth. But it is being threatened by the pollution by people and nature itself. By polluting the habitat of marine organism will indirectly affect the ecosystem of the marine life. Marine life is dying and as the result the oceanic ecosystem is threatened.
The topic of this research paper will cover over Ocean Acidification and the effects on marine ecosystems. Ocean acidification is the decrease in pH levels of the Earth 's oceans, due to overbearing carbon dioxide being brought by the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide is drawn by seawater, where the chemical reactions take place, which minimize the pH levels in the ocean, the carbonate levels and the important calcium carbonate which these sea creatures need. When carbon dioxide disperses in this ocean, it causes the levels of acidity to rise towards the the surface, where most shell growth in marine animals have been stopped and has created the cause of reproductive disorders in multiple fish. Part of the problem with ocean acidification is human activity.
Modern human life is polluting the world. The products that make our life livable, are a big threat to the oceans. Even places that are untouched by mankind, are experiencing the effects of pollution. Entire populations of fish species are being wiped out by overfishing, not even mentioning the species caught as bycatch. The oceans suffer a lot from pollution as well.
