Ocean Acidity by City-Tech Blogger Leonardo Perez

Since the increase of the Co2 levels in the atmosphere the acidity level of the ocean has been increasing.  The oceans play a big role in keeping the Earth’s carbon cycle in balance. Co2 reacts with salt water and forms carbonic acid. This is what causes acidity level to rise. The acidity has increased by 26%. According to the article The Oceans Are Warming, Expanding, and Becoming Dangerously Acidic by Brian Merchant, it is estimated that in the past 200 years the ocean has “absorbed more than a quarter of the carbon dioxide released by human activity, increasing ocean acidity by a similar proportion.”

courtesy of National Geographic.  Photograph by Manu San Felix

If we continue to pollute the atmosphere the increase of acidity in the ocean will have a huge impact on marine life. Sea creatures such as coral reefs, oysters, mussels, urchins, starfish, and many more, will be deeply impacted due to their calcium carbonate body because acid breaks down calcium causing these animals to die.