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Ocean Acidity

By now most people have heard that high levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere are causing global warming. But what they might not realize is that carbon dioxide doesn’t just cause problems up in the sky – it’s also wreaking havoc at the bottom of the ocean.

Carbon dioxide is easily absorbed into sea water, where it accumulates and causes the ocean to become more acidic. Scientists are concerned that this will cause long-term damage to our coral reefs, as reduced amounts of carbonate in the water could make it harder for coral animals to construct their delicate habitats.

The earth’s atmosphere holds an excess amount of carbon dioxide right now because we burn such huge amounts of fossil fuels (for example in coal-burning power plants and from gas-guzzling vehicles, such as SUVs) and there simply aren’t enough trees and plants to absorb it.

Researchers are continuing to investigate how increases in ocean acidity will affect the reefs and other marine ecosystems. In the meantime, efforts to reduce global warming have spiked interest in finding alternative energy sources that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases.

For more information on what’s happening to our coral reefs, go to: www.bbsr.edu/pubs/cdi04/cdi04acid/cdi04acid.html. For more information on simple steps you can take to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, go to: www.fightglobalwarming.com.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org or www.healthandenvironment.org.