Climate at a Glance: Ocean Acidification
Thriving marine life on a coral reef -licensed from 123rf
Bullet-Point Summary:
Ocean water is naturally alkaline and a long way from turning acidic.
A pH of 7 is neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic, while a pH above 7 is alkaline.
The pH of the oceans average 8.1, and range from 7.8 to 8.5. By comparison, rainwater is “acidic,†averaging 5.6.
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1850, according to models, the pH of surface ocean waters has fallen by merely 0.1 pH units.
Ocean health is improved, rather than harmed, by more carbon dioxide. CO2 is a phytoplankton food that forms the foundation of the marine food chain. Also, studies show marine life thrive and enhance their growth in elevated CO2 conditions.
Short Summary:
https://climateataglance.com/climate-at-a-glance-ocean-acidification/
