Lesly Quezada Article: The Dangers of Ocean Acidification Source: Scott C.

Doney/Scientific America

Major Ideas Carbon Dioxide staying in the atmosphere 40% Most CO2 comes from fossil fuels Air bubbles in the ice showing that the CO2 levels were constant pH balance in the ocean has dropped 0.1 Calcifying organisms

Main Ideas Air bubbles in ice cores have showed that the CO2 levels for the past several thousand years were constant until the industrial revolution the CO2 concentration levels have increased rapidly. To be exact the levels of concentration have increased by 30%, when fossil fuels are burned theCO2 evaporates into the atmosphere where 40% stays. 1/3 of the CO2 is absorbed by the ocean. That amount of absorption has caused a pH of modern surface waters to be 0.1 lower. As the ocean begins to become more acidic the organisms with calcium shells in the ocean will be effected dramatically, such

as corals and animals that contain shells, there protective layers will begin to get thin and dissolve.

My Person Input

As someone that is interested into learning about the environment, I enjoy reading these articles. I believe it is a good idea to put out these kinds of articles to the public because they Most people in the world are unaware of many of the environmental issues that we face today and articles like these need to be shared more often for these issues to be brought up to attention. The only way we can fix any kind of environmental issue is to have people support. Depletion in coral and shelled animals will cause a large impact in the ocean, there are many fish that depend on corals to live off of and the shelled animals are food to many fish, it will only cause a domino effect, then eventually it will affect us humans.
So What ?
It is important to know about ocean acidification because it affects our system. It is very threatening to many different animals and organisms in the ocean such as shells that are a major part of the food chain, and reefs which are also important because they work as homes and help the deep blue sea.

Says Who?
Not only have scientist talked about this but also organizations that dedicate their time to make the environment clean.

What If?
If it is not addressed the acidity of the ocean would get worst and many animals will die off and our food system would not be very incurable and this could harm us too.

What Does This Remind Me Of?

This Ocean Acidification reminds me of the lab we did In class showing that did CO2 did to the salted water and what acidic liquids do to certain living shells in the sea.