Coral reefs and salmon stocks are effected by rising ocean acidity

Oceans are becoming more acidic due to the raising levels of CO2 in our atmosphere and effecting sensitive sea-life such as coral and salmon stocks. Scientist estimate oceans have absorbed about 118 million tons of CO2, or maybe a third of the fossil fuel emissions. Although the ocean acts as a good natural carbon sink, recent studies say that its effects are detrimental to some animals, and irreversible. The absorption in seawater causes a chemical reaction, producing carbonic acid. This, in turn, reduces the amount of calcium carbonate in the ocean -- which turns out to be a chemical widely used by marine life.

Chris Langdon, a coral expert at the University of Miami noted that "Coral reefs are like the rain forests of the ocean." Acidification of seawater undermines the skeletal structures of coral which in turn undermines this basic marine ecosystem and harms other species that have evolved to depend upon coral. the changes have happened relatively quickly because of increased carbon emissions from humans. Time will tell in sea-life can adapt to the increase in acidity, or if some species will become extinct.

Over time, the changes could have an impact that ripples through the food chain, from microscopic plants that can't grow right to salmon and whales unable to find enough food to eat. The northern Pacific Ocean and its salmon stocks are especially vulnerable to CO2-driven ocean acidification, Dr. Richard Feely said, a leading oceanographer said, because this part of the planet has "older" water that is already naturally rich in the gas. Some of the massive currents that connect the oceans accumulate carbon dioxide as they move, ending up in the north Pacific.

Dr. Richard Feely reported his concerns two decades ago about atmospheric carbon dioxide significantly altering the chemistry of the oceans, his findings were largely ignored. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, which were about 280 parts per million by volume (ppmv) in 1880, increased to 367 ppmv by 2000 and are expected to reach from 463 to 623 ppmv by 2050. An increase to 560 ppmv would cause an estimated 30% reduction in the carbonate ion concentration in the upper ocean and affect both skeletal growth rates and the structural growth of reefs.

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