Effects of Ocean Acidification Oceans are an important reser | Upsc Environment

Effects of Ocean Acidification

Oceans are an important reservoir for CO2, absorbing a significant quantity of it (one-third) produced by anthropogenic activities and effectively buffering climate change.

The uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide is occurring at a rate exceeding the natural buffering capacity of the oceans.

Increasing acidity depresses metabolic rates and immune responses in some organisms.

Seawater absorbs CO2 to produce carbonic acid, bicarbonate and carbonate ions.

However, the increase in atmospheric CO2 levels lead to a decrease in pH level, an increase in the concentration of carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions, causing a decrease in the concentration of carbonate ions.

The decrease in the amount of carbonate ions available makes it more difficult for marine calcifying organisms, such as coral (calcareous corals) and some plankton (calcareous plankton), to form biogenic calcium carbonate.