Coral reefs will die if seawater acidity does not decrease

If CO ₂ momentum is released into the atmosphere as it is today, Earth's coral reefs will in turn disappear due to ocean acidification.

A study published for the first time not long ago said ocean acidification could threaten the survival of coral reefs on Earth. Ocean acidification is the process by which acidic gases (typically CO ₂ ) dissolve into seawater to form acids that reduce the pH of the sea.

During more than 22 days between September and October 2014, scientists pumped antacids into the world's largest Great Barrier Reef coral reef system off Australia. They found that by reducing the acidity of the water, the coral could grow and grow again. The study is also published in the journal Nature.

Ocean acidification may threaten the survival of coral reefs on Earth.

The oceans are getting more and more acidified by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When CO ₂ interacts with seawater, they combine with chemicals in the water and make seawater acidic. The special group Blue Ribbon Panel of the Ocean Acid Research Program conducted a trial in Washington State in 2012 and found that the status of oysters and crabs with thin crust is the product of the work. from sea acidification phenomenon.

Meanwhile, corals are made up mainly of calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) and grow into large strips. But ocean acidification has made these corals increasingly narrowed due to erosion of seawater as pH declines. However, so far there is no clear evidence of acidity causing calcium reduction.

Experiment and extremely impressive results

Derek Manzello, principal investigator for the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program of the US Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said: "The experimental application of a reef actually makes research. This is really becoming a breakthrough ".

Acid is measured by a pH in the range of 0-14 degrees indicating acidic to alkaline changes. Pure water is usually neutral and has a pH of 7. Wherever any substance with a pH lower than 7 is acidic.

Historically, the ocean pH has been hovering around 8.2 or slightly alkaline. However, in the past two centuries, seawater has been more inclined to measure acidity. Currently the ocean's pH is 8.1 and tends to be 25% more acidic than in the past.

But what do these values ​​mean? If you do not know, only one change of 0.1 pH is enough to create drastic changes that many marine organisms die due to inadequate adaptation because they are accustomed to high pH. Many physiological activities of many species are also affected by this factor.

The process of impact of CO ₂ causes ocean acidification.

The study was carried out by a team of researchers, led by two major authors, Rebecca Albright and Ken Caldeira of the One Tree Reef Research Institute in Carnegie, the Great Barrier Reef. The reason why scientists choose this position is the isolation of the One Tree coral reef . It is surrounded by three lagoons and separated from the sea at low tide. This helps scientists more conveniently research in natural conditions.

Albright judged the results obtained as a gamble. She said: "We have paid off because we can learn things that cannot be found within laboratory limits, and can understand reactions in the natural environment."

Scientists pumped the dye and sodium hydroxide (an alkaline) substance, as described by Caldeira, as "antacid " into coral reefs once a day and within an hour at low tide. After more than an hour, they began to compare the state of sea level upstream and downstream when passing through the pump station. This procedure is to test the effect of dyes and antacids on corals.

Changes in the amount of dyes will help the team understand how much diluted seawater is mixed. While changes in antacids will help them find out how much the reefs have absorbed.

"CO2 emission reduction" is the only solution

The first scientists who thought of the idea of ​​reducing acidity in seawater would not work on corals. However, they found that the coral reefs absorbed an average of 17.3% of the antacids in the test. Absorbing antacids helps to offset a lot of acidic calcium in corrosive seawater. Thanks to that absorption, the team found that calcification increased by 7% during the study.

This result further demonstrates that reversing ocean acidification will be an effective way to restore and develop coral reefs in the ocean.

Experimental scenes of researchers.

This is Caldeira's third test. The first two experiments of Caldeira focused on improving methods. In the second test conducted in 2013, the results were similar to the results of this third test. However, the group has never published research results because Caldeira wants to confirm the findings before publication.

Albright argues that the study is closely linked to a study conducted on coral reefs in the Pacific Northwest in 2012. The discovery was then announced by NOAA in November 2012. billions of oyster larvae died in Washington hatcheries during the 2005 - 2009 period due to ocean acidification. The decreased pH in the water corroded the weak shell of oyster larvae that were too small.

Will our future still see multicolored coral reefs sparkling under the sea?

Clearly, research has specifically demonstrated the impact of CO ₂ on coral reefs. But the solution to solving it thoroughly and spreading globally is not easy to implement. That's why Albright says: "The only real solution at the moment is to reduce CO2 emissions" , which is what we all need to do together to solve. The team is hoping to reduce the acidity in the ocean below the pre-industrial level.

Each individual's efforts will be just like "saltwater" if governments do not take tough moves in the fight against climate change and against the extinction of all species.