Negative Effects Of Ocean Acidification

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. Human created carbon that is absorbed into the ocean has made a 30% increase in ocean acidity. (1)

Organisms like oysters, clams, scallops, etc. are being negatively affected by the acidity. Animals like salmon and crabs are also thought to be affected negatively by the carbon Dioxide in the ocean. Plants as well as animals are being affected by the acidity in the ocean. They are affected

In 2015 the use of coal decreased by about 1%. Carbon dioxide levels increased in 2015 by 36 million metric tons from 2014. 2015 also was the sixth straight year that a record for carbon dioxide released was set. Overall, in 2015 a lot of carbon dioxide was released and it is now being absorbed into the oceans. (2)

Ocean acidification is caused by carbon dioxide that did not stay in the air. Around 22 million tons of carbon dioxide is absorbed into the ocean everyday. This was thought as a good thing at first because there is less carbon dioxide in the air to warm the planet, but when more research was done it was found that carbon dioxide is changing the ocean's makeup. Some animals are already being affected by the acidity in the ocean. The shells on animals are dissolving due to the changing pH level in the ocean. (3)

Carbonic acid is made when carbon dioxide and water are mixed. While carbonic acid is not as strong as some acids that can break down solids, it is still harming life in the ocean. Some animals may be able to adapt to the acidity in the ocean changing, but a lot will not survive. Plants are being affected by the acidity and if they can not adapt then they will die. Coral reefs, fish, and oysters are negatively affected by the changing chemistry of the

Sea snail shells are beginning to dissolve due to the acid in the ocean. It is thought that by the end of the century sea snails will not be able to survive. The acidity in the ocean prevents squids from getting the oxygen they need and there acidity in there blood. Squids are the fastest invertebrates in the ocean and a big part of the food chain, so if they start dying because of the acidity of the ocean then the whole food chain will be greatly affected. Carbon dioxide is thought to affect the eggs of fish because they are not developing like they should. It is also thought to make fish more active and they are swimming out into dangerous areas. This is causing more fish to die.