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Ocean Trends
Ocean trends are what happens when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reacts with the ocean to make it increasingly acidic. This timeline shows what, how, and why the ocean is becoming more acidic and also a few ways humans can lessen their carbon footprint. -
Increased Carbon Dioxide
Humans have been burning fossil fuels since 1860. As a result, there are rising levels of carbon dioxide, which unbalances the ecosystem. -
CO2 In the Ocean Causes Carbonic Acid
Because the atmosphere is getting overloaded by the amount of carbon dioxide, most of the carbon dioxide enters the oceans. When carbon dioxide enters the ocean, it reacts and forms carbonic acid. An increase in carbonic acid makes the ocean more acidic. The acidity affects the growth of organisms such as coral and sea urchins. -
Burning Fossil Fuels
The burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline/coal releases CO2 into the atmosphere. Since the Industrial Revolution, human beings have spit out gigatons of CO2. -
Acidity Affects Calcifiers
Calcifiers are organisms that use calcium to create their skeletons. Some such organisms are coral and sea urchins. When the ocean becomes more acidic, there is less calcium carbonate and more carbonic acid. This causes the organisms to become weak. -
Lessening Humans' Carbon Footprint
Because humans are the heart of ocean acidity, humans must be the ones to fix their wrongdoings. Some ways to stop emitting carbon dioxide is to renewable energy in place of fossil fuels such as gasoline and coal. -
Lessening Humans' Impact on the Environment
Humans are not only affecting the oceans but other environments as well. For example, the people of Las Vegas have expanded their communities so much that the coyotes who once lived there were pushed out. There are still ways for humans to fix the problems that they've created. We can help coyotes adapt and find new homes so that they do not become extinct.
