The Oceans are Changing

Carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere. Human and animal exhale carbon dioxide and plants need it to grow. However, at this time due to the unhealthy practices of the people all over the globe there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there was any time in the past 15 million years. This carbon dioxide form a blanket cover over the earth which in turn gets heated by the sun and the heat gets trapped under the blanket of carbon dioxide and is warming the temperature globally. About 30 percent of this carbon dioxide dissolved in the sea water but does not remain a floating molecule but several chemical changes take place which breaks down the CO2 and combines them with others.

The carbon cycle of the Earth is kept in check by the Oceans that hold about 96.5 percent of all Earths water. Ocean plays a very important role in controlling the carbon cycle and keeping it balanced. With the carbon dioxide rises in the atmosphere, it is the Oceans that absorb a lot of this gas. Once carbon dioxide mixes with the Ocean waters it reacts and forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is weaker than other acids like hydrochloric. Being a weak acid it does not work quickly but still it does work just like all the other acids.

Sea water contains more hydrogen ions and has lower pH. Lower the pH more acidic will be the solution.

Myriad of chemical reactions, inclusive of those that are essential to life are sensitive to change in the pH. Drop in pH level in human system can result in cardiac arrest, seizures or coma and even death, in similar way the increase in acidity and lowering of pH will be impacting the marine life.

As a natural process the pH level of Ocean fluctuates and the marine animals and organism have adapted to these fluctuations. However, continuous increase in acidity and lowering of pH will definitely have a negative impact on the marine life. Some species may be able to adapt to extreme changes but many will simply face extinction.

One other interesting fact about increase in the carbon dioxide in the ocean is also caused by winds that blow over the ocean as was observed when the strong Westerly winds blew over the Antarctic Ocean during the month of October to February.

By: Madhuchanda Saxena

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181009175643.htm