Ocean acidification IS serious. You may think most of the CO2 emitted by human activities stays in the atmosphere, however, between 25% and 50% of this CO2 is actually absorbed by the oceans. The CO2 makes the oceans more acidic and in fact, the acidity of the oceans has increased by 30% over the last two centuries. Coral reefs are one of the biggest marine ecosystems threatened from ocean acidification. Coral reefs are threatened because as acidity rises, algae, especially pteropods, can’t survive. Pteropods act as the base of the marine food chain. If they die off, many other species of marine life are also threatened. Then, as coral reefs lose their biodiversity and vitality, there many other benefits are also threatened. Coral reefs provide a shoreline buffer for floods, an economic hotspot for fisheries, tourism, recreation, and medical importance. Reefs are the so called medicine cabinets of the 21st century, providing breakthroughs in treatments for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and many other diseases. A world with ocean acidification is one with potential economic downturns, shoreline degradation, and inabilities to cure life threatening diseases. Is that a world you want to live in? With the threats to coral reefs alone, this should highlight the dangers of neglecting ocean acidification.

“What is Ocean Acidification.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Accessed 21 October 2018.

Last modified: 21 October 2018