Journal of Humanitarian Affairs: These are the ways you can help prevent ocean acidification

Ocean life threatened by acidification

Randy Morris — Approximately 30 percent of all of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere is absorbed into the oceans, according to Oceana, a global non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the oceans. When you consider the dramatic increase in carbon emissions over the past few decades, this is a significant amount that has been on the rise for decades. The consistent increase of carbon dioxide emissions through the years and its requisite absorption into the oceans has had severe effects on the marine ecosystem, throwing off its overall pH balance to cause the oceans to become acidic.

How it works

Ocean acidification shares a root cause with climate change—increased carbon dioxide emissions. Oceana notes this is causing the pH of oceans to change at an unprecedented rate, 100 times faster than the past few thousand years of recorded history. As the natural balance of alkalinity to acidity declines, the effects start small, affecting microorganisms, and then gradually create a chain reaction.

How big of a problem is this?

Currently the most troubling evidence of ocean acidification is found in the Southern Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. Researchers at the British Antarctic Survey have identified significant shell corrosion of pteropods, a species of sea snails found in the Southern Ocean. In the South Pacific Ocean, scientists noted sluggish growth of the Great Barrier Reef according to Scientific American. Growth of Porites coral colonies on the reef has slowed by around 13 percent in the past 23 years, the study showed.

As the amount of carbon dioxide continues to increase and create a chain reaction on other life forms in the marine ecosystem, ocean acidification is poised to have very serious effects. While as a society we typically rely on special interest groups like Greenpeace and the EPA and environmental remediation companies to shoulder the burden of mitigating environmental problems, this is such a potentially massive issue that it must be addressed by each and every one of us in order to truly solve it.

Ways to do your part in prevention

The increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are a direct result of fossil fuels burned to create fuel to power our cars and homes. While industry is also a culprit, road transport and energy industries generate most carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

Here are some things that you can do to make a positive impact and keep the sea of the Isle of Wight and the oceans around the world healthy: