What is Ocean Acidification?
Ocean acidification is decrease in the pH of ocean, caused by increased uptake of Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere. Ocean water normally maintains basic condition with pH over 7. However through carbonate dissolution, the ocean alkalinity changes over long time. Average 30 to 40 % of the carbon dioxide released from the human activities are dissolved into oceans. Once it is dissolved, to maintain the chemical equilibrium it reacts with water to form carbonic acid. And some of these extra carbonic acid molecules react with water to release bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions, increasing the ocean acidity. This phenomenon is called ocean acidification. It is highly effective, because increased acidity depresses metabolic rates and immune responses in some organisms, causing coral bleaching. We will discuss about the impacts later.
Why we chose this topic:
Ocean acidification is a phenomenon that is rapidly impacting many different coastal ecosystems in our lifetime. When our team chose the ocean acidification as our topic, we were inspired by our personal experiences. However, it’s not a well-known phenomenon as global warming or El nino and La nina. Thus we thought this project can help us to understand how ocean acidification functions in the hydrosphere. In addition, we will be able to investigate how global and local leadership have been regulating this issue, as wells as what types of policies have been put into place. This research will give us a better understanding of how our activities are contributing to the advancement of ocean acidification.
In summary, we expect two results from our term project. First, by introducing the concept and physical, biological, and chemical effects of ocean acidification, we can increase the awareness of the ocean acidification. Second, we can make people actually participate to relieve the ocean acidification. The possible responses are somewhat highly technological parts, but one of them is reducing CO2 emissions. This response can inspire people to participate. Reducing CO2 emission is known to relieve global warming, but if people are aware that it also helps to alleviate the ocean acidification, they would be more eager to be part of the team.
In summary, we expect two results from our term project. First, by introducing the concept and physical, biological, and chemical effects of ocean acidification, we can increase the awareness of the ocean acidification. Second, we can make people actually participate to relieve the ocean acidification. The possible responses are somewhat highly technological parts, but one of them is reducing CO2 emissions. This response can inspire people to participate. Reducing CO2 emission is known to relieve global warming, but if people are aware that it also helps to alleviate the ocean acidification, they would be more eager to be part of the team.
About Us:
Jung Min Lim:
Hi I’m Jung Min Lim and I’m a senior at Ewha Womans University, majoring Environmental Science and Engineering. If you have any questions about our website, feel free to contact me at [email protected] |
Hello!
I’m Dohee Kim, Junior in Ewha Womans Univ. Environmental Science & Engineering. I have an interest in Global Climate Change, Hydrometeorology and Geochemical Cycle. If you have any question, please e-mail me. [email protected] Thank you! |
Hello!
I'm Isabelle Atchia and I am at Junior at the University of South Florida, majoring in Environmental Policy. If you have an y questions, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. Thank you! |