Ocean acidification is a word that was created in 2004. The word is culturally almost meaningless, but scientifically one of the biggest words in the world. Almost every aspect of the word challenges our senses. Science tells us the pH of the world's oceans might drop from 8.1 to 7.7 before 2100—the biggest change in 50 million years. Instead of being an ocean that builds corals and shells, the ocean grows to dissolve them, therefore threatening the basis of one of the most vital chains of life on our planet.
But this word is difficult, new, and not very catchy. The pH scale is impossible to comprehend, how can 0.4 be dangerous? The timeline is also impossible, 2100 is 81 years after Blade Runner. And 50 million years - I could just as well say gazillion. But it means - a human being, born today and becoming as old as my mother, is seeing a greater change in the world's oceans than not only all the Homo Sapiens from 300,000 years ago or the earliest ancestors of the genus Homo that might be 2.5 million years old, but 10 times the evolution of our species. When geology becomes influenced by human speed, we are witnessing mythology. When history merges with geology we get mythology.
Sunlight reflects off waves on a warm summer day traversing the Davis Strait. Davis Strait, 2024.
Photography By Pamela EA
RESEARCH
Definition editing and Text by Sorah Park
Research by Micheala Chan
Fact-checking by Hailey Basiouny
November 7, 2024
• Oceanographers observe and measure ocean acidification by collecting water samples from the ocean at marine stations, and measure the total amount of CO2 and pH of the samples or a combination of these measurements.22
• Ocean acidification occurs when the ocean’s pH reduces over an extended period, primarily caused by the increase in atmospheric CO2. Oceans absorb 30% of the carbon emissions released into the atmosphere, triggering a chain of chemical reactions resulting in the release of hydrogen ions. When there is a high concentration of hydrogen ions, ocean acidification occurs, reducing the amount of carbonate ions which are important for building calcium carbonate structures such as shells and coral skeletons.23 Ocean acidification has both direct and indirect impact on marine ecosystems and people that rely on the ocean for sustenance.
• Since the Industrial Revolution, global ocean pH has dropped 30%. Animals and plants are harmed by lower pH since increased acidity inhibits the building of shells, skeletons, and important defensive mechanisms from predators. This disrupts the food web and can cause loss of habitat, change in food availability and increase of invasive species.24 To prevent further coastal and marine consequences, carbon emission reduction on an individual and structural level can help mitigate ocean acidification.
