1. Evil twin of Climate Change
Ocean Acidification
Evil twin of Climate Change

3. What is Ocean Acidification ? click title for 3 min. video
Human made carbon dioxide is being absorbed by the oceans making them approx. 30% more acidic so far
The trends in the atmosphere and ocean have continued with CO2 now at 400 in the atmosphere and ocean pH lower

4. Why is this small change a Big Deal?
Increased acidity will gradually dissolve the shells of many sea creatures essential to the food chain
Experiment with water at the predicted 2100 acidity level
these pterapods are an essential parts of the marine food chain in the Arctic Ocean

5. Historic and Projected Ocean pH Levels
Time pH
H+ change
18th Century
8.179
1990s
8.104
+18.9%
Present
8.069
+28.8%
2050
7.949
+69.8%
2100
7.824
+126.5%
The normal pH level for the ocean is above the neutral value of 7.0.
Because the pH scale is logarithmic, changing from 8.2 to 7.2 would mean 10x more H+ ions, or 1000% change.

6. Problems are already occurring
Oyster farms are experiencing failures.
Experiments show that tiny reductions in pH reduce the amount of shell building carbonate in the water, making shell building much more difficult, especially for young larvae (baby shell fish)
Click here for 6 min Oyster Farm Video

7. Marine Extinction 252 Million years ago
This event killed 96% of marine life
and 70% of land life.
Causes are not fully known
but included very strong
greenhouse effect
and ocean acidification.
Temps increased 14 deg F
and carbon dioxide reached 2000 ppm
event included huge volcanic eruptions - siberian traps - and possibly melting of methane hydroxides. Whether it was triggered by an asteriod impact is not known.
This was BEFORE the dinosaur era!

8. How to reduce ocean acidification
Basically reduce carbon dioxide emissions
Switch to renewable energy
Divest from fossil fuel stocks
Use less energy for driving and at home
Support a carbon tax
Contact 350.org
3 min guardian video Keep it in the Ground
Note - geoengineering with sulfate aerosols will NOT help the oceans

9. Resources