WELCOME

OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

MADE BY ASHOKA house

WELCOME

3

BASIC CONCEPTOcean acidification is the continuous decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

About 30–40% of the carbon dioxide released by humans into the atmosphere dissolves into oceans, rivers and lakes. To achieve chemical equilibrium, some of it reacts with the water to form carbonic acid.

Before a few decades, the ocean water was basic. With time acidity of the ocean water is rising.

HOW ACIDIC ARE THE OCEANS

The oceans are not acidic but, in fact, slightly basic.

Acidity is measured using the pH scale, where 7.0 is said to

be neutral, with higher levels called "basic" and lower levels called

"acidic".

Historical global mean seawater values are approximately

8.16 on this scale, making them slightly basic.

For example, pure water has a pH of 7.0 (neutral), whereas

household bleach has a pH of 12 (highly basic) and battery acid has a

pH of zero (highly acidic).

However, even a small change in pH may lead to large

changes in ocean chemistry. Over the past 300 million years, global

mean ocean pH values have probably never been more than 0.6 units

lower than today (6). Ocean ecosystems have thus evolved over time in

a very stable pH environment, and it is unknown if they can adapt to

such large and rapid changes.

?

THE OCEAN IS A CARBON SINK

• THE OCEAN ABSORBS CO2 FROM THE ATMOSPHERE

• PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES MOVE SOME OF THE CARBON TO THE DEEP OCEAN WHERE IT IS STORED

• THE CAPTURE AND

STORAGE OF CARBON

IS KNOWN AS

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

5

Our oceancaptures and stores carbon

HOW MUCH CO2 CAN THE OCEAN ABSORB?

• THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ANY GAS SEAWATER CAN ABSORB

DEPENDS ON TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY

• SALINITY IS A MEASURE

OF THE DISSOLVED SALT

CONTENT OF WATER

6

Temperature or Salinity

Amount of gas seawater can absorb

CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE OCEAN

CALCIUM CARBONATE IS THE MATERIAL THAT COMPOSES

THE SHELLS AND EXOSKELETONS OF MANY MARINE ORGANISMS

7

• Carbonate is used by marine organisms like this pteropod (marine snail) to create the compound calcium carbonate

• When dissolved in water, carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid that primarily dissociates into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions

• Some of the excess hydrogen ions combine with carbonate, decreasing carbonate availability to marine organisms.

IMPACTS ON OCEANIC CHEMISTRY

• Marine animals are unable to

survive.

• Destruction of food web

• Several ocean goods and services

are likely to be damaged by future

ocean acidification, (like pearl

industry)

• Calcification

• Vulnerable shelled animals

• Increasing the growth rate of the sea

star, Pisaster ochraceus

9

THE CARBON CYCLE

HUMAN CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THIS SUCCESSIVE ACIDIFICATION

TRANSPORTATION, INDUSTRY AND THINGS WE DO AT HOME,

LIKE USE ELECTRICITY, HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO RISING CO2

EMISSIONS TO THE ATMOSPHERE, WHICH ARE THEN

ABSORBED BY THE OCEAN

11

IMPACT ON THE DIFFERENT MARINE ANIMALS

PRESERVATION

• SOME PROGRAMS WORKING FOR OCEANIC ACIDIFICATION ARE:

1. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION PROGRAM (OAP) BY NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)

2. UK OCEAN ACIDIFICATION (UKOA) PROGRAMS AND RESEARCHES

3. PRECISION MEASUREMENT AND EQUIPMENT LABORATORY (PMEL) WHICH IS ANOTHER SUB-

DIVISION OF NOAA.

• STEPS TAKEN BY THESE PROGRAMS:

1. CREATING PUBLIC AWARENESS

2. CONDUCTING RESEARCHES THAT HELP IN MAXIMUM EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE AND TAKING

APPROPRIATE ACTIONS FOR REDUCTION IN THIS OCEAN ACIDIFICATIONS.

3. DRAFTING PLANS FOR FUTURE REDUCTION OF THE SAME WITH SEVERAL OTHER CO-

OPERATIONS.

• TILL DATE NO STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AS SUCH FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE ACIDIFICATION.

13

Photo: NOAA

14

OUR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS REDUCTION• WE CAN ADOPT THE FOLLOWING MEASURES FOR OUR CONTRIBUTION

TOWARDS THE REDUCTION OF OCEANIC ACIDIFICATION:

1. WE CAN REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT BY: SWITCHING TO ENERGY

EFFICIENT PRODUCTS, DROPPING THE TEMPERATURE OF OUR WATER

HEATERS FROM 60O C TO 400 C AND BY SWITCHING OF APPLIANCES AT THE

PLUG POINT.

2. BY PLANTING TREES THROUGH PROCESSES LIKE REFORESTATION AND

AFORESTATION.

3. REDUCING OUR VEHICLE USE WHICH IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR EMISSION OF

CARBON-DIOXIDE.

4. BY USING THE THREE R’S OF WASTE MANAGEMENT

15

THANK YOU

THANKYOU