Climate change increases acidity primarily by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is then absorbed by the oceans, leading to ocean acidification.
The Connection Between Climate Change and Acidity
Here's a breakdown of how climate change contributes to increased acidity:
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Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Climate change is largely driven by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, in the atmosphere. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, release large quantities of CO2.
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Ocean Absorption of CO2: The ocean acts as a significant carbon sink, absorbing a substantial portion of the excess CO2 from the atmosphere. This absorption is a natural process, but the increased atmospheric CO2 due to climate change has led to a dramatic increase in the amount of CO2 absorbed by the ocean.
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Ocean Acidification: When CO2 dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water molecules (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid then dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and hydrogen ions (H+). The increase in hydrogen ions (H+) lowers the pH of the water, making it more acidic.
CO2 + H2O ⇌ H2CO3 ⇌ HCO3- + H+
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Impacts of Increased Acidity: The increased acidity in the ocean has significant consequences for marine life.
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Shell Formation: Many marine organisms, such as shellfish and corals, rely on calcium carbonate to build their shells and skeletons. Ocean acidification reduces the availability of carbonate ions, making it more difficult for these organisms to build and maintain their structures.
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Disruption of Marine Ecosystems: Ocean acidification can disrupt entire marine ecosystems, impacting food webs and biodiversity.
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Summary
Climate change, primarily through increased CO2 emissions, leads to ocean acidification. This process lowers the pH of seawater, making it more acidic and threatening marine life, particularly organisms that rely on calcium carbonate for their shells and skeletons. The increase in acidity caused by climate change presents a serious threat to the health and stability of marine ecosystems.
