This is a small presentation on ocean acidification.It is a compilation of all materials(including present information) I collected related to it, any new information beside this or concerning it please comment.

1. Presented By:-
Elen Barla
M.Sc 2nd semester
Roll no-11ES01

2. CONTENTS
•Introduction
•Carbon cycle
•What is ocean acidification?
•Chemistry of ocean acidification
•Impacts of ocean acidification
•Potential effects on ecosystem
•Facts about Ocean Acidification
•What can we do about it?
•conclusion

3. •Oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s
surface.
•Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have
increased the amount of carbon dioxide emitted
to the atmosphere-and the amount that
dissolve into the ocean.
•Massive amount of carbon dioxide into the sea
-altering water chemistry.
-causing ocean to become more acidic.
-affecting life-cycle of marine
organism, particularly at the lower end of food
chain.

4. •Carbon dioxide is a critical part of earth’s atmosphere.
•It maintain a natural balance of carbon in the atmosphere , land
and ocean.
•The ocean absorb carbon in two ways-physical and biological.

5. What is Ocean Acidification ?
Since the beginning of industrial era , emission of carbon
dioxide have increased.
Exceeding the capacity of the carbon cycle to maintain an
equilibrium between the atmosphere and ocean.
The absorption of carbon dioxide is fundamentally changing
the chemistry of the ocean by triggering reactions that make sea
water more acidic , a phenomenon called Ocean acidification.
Definition:-
“Ocean Acidification is a term used to describe the
changes in the chemistry of the earth’s ocean ie
ongoing decrease in the pH and increase in acidity ,
caused by the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere”

6. CHEMISTRY OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

7. IMPACTS OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

8. POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON ECOSYSTEMS
Specific effects of ocean acidification to a variety of
ocean ecosystem , around the globe.
•THE OPEN OCEAN ECOSYSTEM:
Based on plankton , which serves as the foundation of
the marine food chain.
Planktonic species including coccolithophores ,
foraminifera , and pteropods need carbonate ions to
build their shells.
If ocean acidification increases ,
Carbonate based planktonic species may decline.
A range of species including fish , seals , whales could
lose their preferred food.
Cont……

9. Photos projected for the year 2100 shows pteropod’s shell slowly dissolves after 45 days
when placed in sea water with low pH and carbonate levels.

10. POLAR ECOSYSTEM
•The polar waters of Arctic and Southern oceans harbor many
protected and endangered marine mammals.
•Carbon Dioxide dissolve more readily in cold water , acidifying
the waters of polar regions faster than in lower latitudes.
•If carbon dioxide continue to increase , by the year 2050 , the
surface waters of southern ocean will become corrosive to some
type of carbonate structure.
TROPICAL CORAL REEFS
• In the Natural world , corals must rapidly grow to outpace
predation by fish and other organisms and to compete for space
with algae and sea-grasses.
•Ocean Acidification ,prevents reef building corals from growing
fast enough to escape predation and competition and also
contribute to coral bleaching. Cont………

11. Coral bleaching

12. DEEP WATER CORAL REEFS
•Corals in the deep sea create habitat for many
species of fish .
•Ocean Acidification in deeper water reduces
calcification and decrease the rate of growth
of deep water corals.

13. Growth and skeletal integrity of scleractinian corals and coralline algae that are likely to be
compromised by ocean acidification.

14. FACTS ABOUT OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
•World’s oceans are becoming acidic at faster rate,
threatening disaster for marine life and food
supplies across globe .
• The carbon dioxide in the water has caused the pH of
surface oceans to fall by 0.1 units –projected to fall further
0.3-0.4 units.
•Currently , the ocean absorbs about a third of
human-created carbon dioxide emission , roughly
22 million tons a day.
•Acidity has increased 30% and its effect is irreversible.
CONT……

15. •If carbon dioxide emission continue unchecked-key
parts of the marine environment that are essential for
fish-such as Coral reefs , the Algae and plankton will be
severely affected , leading to the extinction of some
species by 2050.
•Current rate of acidification -making difficult for
species and habitats to adapt.
•If atmospheric carbon dioxide can be stabilized at
450ppm, only 8% of existing tropical and sub-tropical
coral reefs will still be in the waters of right pH level to
support their growth.

16. What can we do about it ?
•Combating Acidification
 requires reducing carbon dioxide emission
and improving the health of the ocean.
Creating marine protected areas and
stopping destructive fishing practices.
 Addition of Alkali to the Oceans.
Adding of lime stone carbonate material.
Plantation of trees.
Green belt around the industries.

18. CONCLUSION
•Due to ,Ocean Acidification , the oceans’
capacity as carbon store house is diminishing.
• If nothing is done to help curb Ocean
Acidification , its negative impact may be felt
on the marine environment , local
communities , and all the way up through the
global economy..

19. “This is not something that’s off in the future.
This is not something for our children’s
children. It’s happening now.”
– Dr. Christopher Sabine

20. Thank You