Environmental Science Presentation

Semester-2 (2020-21)
RAMJAS COLLEGE, DELHI UNIVERSITY
Department of Mathematics
Presented By:
MANCY PATHAK
ROLL NO:MAT/2020/110
The Global Issue of Ocean
Acidification
 AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to convey my heart felt thanks
to my teacher Dr.Pallavi Singh who gave me
the opportunity to do this wonderful
project on the topic THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF
OCEAN ACIDIFICTION which also helped me
in doing lot of research and I came to know
about so many things. I really thankful to
them.
CONTENTS
• Introduction

 CO₂ Impact On Ocean pH

Chemistry of ocean acidification

• Biological Processes Affected by
ocean
acidification
 Effects on corals selfish and other
calcifiers
 Case Study- Acidification in artic
ocean
Covering more than 70% of the Earth surface , the ocean is one of planets earth
most distinguishing characteristics. Ocean are important reservoir for CO2,
absorbing a significant quantity of it (one-third) produced by anthropogenic
activities and effectively buffering climate.
What is ocean acidification?
As the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the ocean increases the
concentration of hydrogen ions in the ocean increases , the concentration of
carbonate ions decreases, the pH of the ocean decreases and the ocean became
less alkaline, this process is known as ocean acidification
How Does Rising CO₂ Impact Ocean Acidification?
Carbon cycles naturally between the atmosphere , the land and
the ocean by the number of processes like photosynthesis and
respiration. Since the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide has
increased by 30 %. Some of the excess , human caused CO₂ is
absorbed, like a sponge, by the ocean.
As CO₂ dissolve into the ocean a series of chemical reaction
occurs that result in the increased concentration of hydrogen
ions and reduction of pH . This process is known as Ocean
acidification.
From long-term ocean measurements and observations, it is
found that the pH of ocean surface water is decreased by about
0.11 pH unit i.e the ocean surface water have become 30% more
acidic over the last 150 years as they have absorbed large amount
of CO₂ from the atmosphere.
 THE CHEMISTRY OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
Atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean, where it
reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃). Almost
immediately, carbonic acid dissociates to form bicarbonate ions
(HCO₃-)and hydrogen ions (H+). As the concentration of
hydrogen ions increases, the water becomes more acidic.
 Biological Processes Affected By Ocean
Acidification
Maintaining metabolism
Many physiological processes are fine-tuned
to operate within a narrow pH range ; outside
of that range, the biochemical reaction are
too slow or inefficient to keep the organism
healthy . Recently, scientist discovered that
the lower pH can also affect neurological
processes in adult fish- indicating that a
border range of physiological processes may
Building shells be sensitive to pH , with potentially others yet
to be discovered.
Many animals and
Some algae use carbonate
shells and skeletons . Because
Ocean acidification decreases
The availability of carbonate
Ions, these organisms will
have to work harder to produce
 Obtaining Essential
Mineral and Nutrients
Ocean acidification could make it
harder for marine organism to
absorb nitrogen, phosphorus ,
iron and other elements essential
for growth. For example, when
seawater becomes more acidic,
BOOSTING PHOTOSYNTHESIS iron attaches to organic
Carbon dioxide can stimulate plant growth
compounds, preventing marine
by boosting the rate of photosynthesis.
life from using this essential
Many plants, including sea-grasses , grow
element.
more rapidly under elevated carbon
dioxide condition. Although seagrasses provide
valuable habitat, this could be of good thing,
if these robust species and reduce the
ecosystem’s biodiversity.
 EFFECTS ON SHELL FISH AND OTHER CALCIFIERS
Calcifiers– organism with shells and skeletons and made from
calcium carbonate– are among the most abundant forms of marine
life. They are an essential part of marine ecosystem.
These calcifiers face two potential threats associated with ocean
acidification. 1)their shell and skeleton may dissolve more readily
as ocean pH decreases and sea water becomes more corrosive. And
2) when CO2 dissolve in sea water the water chemistry changes
such that fewer carbonate ions, the primary building blocks for
shells and skeleton ,are available for uptake by marine organism.
 Effect on Coral Reefs
.
Coral reefs are probably home to at least a quarter of the entire biological
diversity of the oceans, and serve as some of the most beautiful habitats in
the world. They cover just one percent of the world’s continental shelves. The
millions of the species feed, reproduce, shelter, larvae and take refuge from
predators in the vast dimensional frame work offered by coral reefs.
By the middle of this century, if carbon dioxide emissions unabated, corals
reefs could be eroding through the natural processes faster than they can
grow their skeletons due to the combined pressure of increasing acidity and
global warming. Reefs may become nothing more than eroded rock
platforms.
Corals face severe declines and even extinction, which will in
turn threaten the survival of reef dependent species
Dissolving Pteropod
Shells
Amongst the mixture of tiny plants and
animals that make up planktons lives a
tiny snail called pteropod. Despite their
small size pteropods are an important
source of food for many species,
including fish, seals and whales.
But pteropods have delicate calcium
carbonate shells that are vulnerable. In
as series of experiments, pteropods
shells were placed in seawater at
pH(acidity) projected for southern ocean
by 2100 .Within 48 hours ,the pteropod
shells began to dissolve.
 How will changing ecosystem impact the people?
As the ocean’s ecosystems change, so too will the
services they provide to society. For example,
every year, millions of scuba divers and snorkelers
visit coral reefs to enjoy their beauty and abun-
dant sea life. Local businesses generate income
by offering diving tours and recreational fishing
trips, and hotels, restaurants, and other businesses
based near the reef ecosystems also benefit from
the influx of visitors. One estimate places the total
global value of coral-reef based recreation and
tourism at $9.6 billion. Ocean acidification threat-
ens the survival of these beautiful and valuable
ecosystems.
 IMPACTS ON WILD FISHERIES
In 2007, the wild fish and shellfish harvested by the U.S. fishing
industry were valued at $3.7 billion. Ocean acidification could
jeopardize this industry by altering the growth and develop-
ment of economically important species of fish, either directly or
through effects on the ecosystems of which these species are a
part. The bottom line could be a reduction in the yield of com-
mercial fisheries, affecting livelihoods of fishermen and the avail-
ability of seafood in markets and restaurants.
 Case Study- Ocean acidification in the
artic
The new research shows that between the 1990s and 2010, acidified
waters expanded northward approximately 300 nautical miles from
the Chukchi Sea slope off the coast of northwestern Alaska to just
below the North Pole. Also, the depth of acidified waters increased
from approximately 325 feet below the surface to more than 800
feet. Ocean acidification is occurring because the ocean is absorbing
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When seawater absorbs
carbon dioxide, its acidity is increased, which decreases the building
blocks used by shellfish to grow their shells.“ Acidification has
implications for marine life, particularly clams, mussels and tiny sea
snails that may have difficulty building or maintaining their shells in
increasingly acidified waters,” said Richard Feely, NOAA senior
scientist and a co-author of the research
Sea snails called pteropods are part of the Arctic food web and
important to the diet of salmon and herring. Their decline could affect
the larger marine ecosystem, he said, and communities that depend on
these popular food fish.“The Arctic Ocean is the first ocean where we
see such a rapid and large-scale increase in acidification, at least twice
as fast as that observed in the Pacific or Atlantic oceans,” said Wei-Jun
Cai, a study co-author based at the University of Delaware.
The graph representing the increase of CO2 in
the oceans
 How can we help stopping ocean
acidification
 Make it a public enemy
 Reduce your carbon footprint
 Educate everyone
 Join a compaign and support organisation
 Influence government policy
 Make smart consumer choices
 References
https://images.app.goo.gl/s9j6uQGj1x9QmGGZ6
https://images.app.goo.gl/s9j6uQGj1x9QmGGZ68
https://progearthplanetsci.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40645-01
8-0239-9

http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocea
n-acidification

https://www.epa.gov/ocean-acidification/effects-ocean-and-coastal-acidifi
cation-ecosystems

www.oceana.org/climate
Artic ocean acidification assesment 2018