Ocean acidification is caused by just that, the quarter of carbon dioxide that still remains from our atmosphere being taken in by the ocean’s surface layer. When carbon dioxide that hits the ocean’s surface layer combines with seawater, some of the carbon dioxide reacts with the water to from carbonic acid. Carbonic acid separates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions. Then, hydrogen ions combines with carbonate ions forming more bicarbonate ions which makes seawater more acidic.
Page 2 Biological Effects on Marine Life
In a biology class, I learned about things such as buffers, acids, and bases. I learned that the more Hydrogen molecules that a substance has makes it more acidic, and the more OH- molecules a substance has makes its concentration more basic. This is relatable to what I have learned in biology class because beneath our seas, some type of acidification is going on because of the hydrogen molecules are in the waters from the excess carbon dioxide that had been released from the atmosphere. When something is too acidic, it does read danger. If one were to think about acidity in relation to water, it would deeply affect the life that resides in them. …show more content…
The acidification of our oceans increases the likelihood of coral reefs to be destroyed or broken down due to erosion. These nearly extinct ecosystems that are either becoming unstable or are being destroyed forces species to find another environment to make their home or to adapt in. The low survival rate of coral reefs under such harsh conditions makes the survival rate of other organisms detrimental as well because it leaves them vulnerable with the reduced amount of living spaces for fish. Leaving fish open to predators, it also has a harmful effects on a fish’s organs. Even though fish do not have shells, they are still affected by the changes that ocean acidification can cause.