Ocean acidification threatens all marine life

Earth oceans are acidifying at an unprecedented rate of history and will threaten the lives of all marine life in the world if people do not soon take action. This is the conclusion of a new German study called "BIOACID - Biological effects of ocean acidification".

According to the study, ocean acidification is capable of amplifying the impact of, reducing the ocean's ability to absorb, as well as direct impact on marine life, although the degree of impact is different on each species. However, experts warn that although some species, though not directly affected by ocean acidification, will not be able to avoid the indirect effects of fluctuations in the food chain or changing habitats. Finally, these changes will affect human marine exploitation, from fishing to cultural and recreational values.

The oceans on Earth are acidifying at an unprecedented speed in history.(Source: phys.org).

is the phenomenon of absorbed CO2 into sea water. This process helps to reduce the speed of global climate change but on the other hand also affects the life in the ocean, as well as marine-dependent activities.

According to the reporter, Professor Ulf Riebesell from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Ocean Research Center located in Kiel city, also the head of the BIOACID project, said that during the period of 2004-2013, the ocean absorbed an average of about 25% of the total amount of CO2 emitted into the environment from human activity. Scientists estimate this number in 2016 can be as high as 36.4 Gigaton (Gt) CO ₂ , equivalent to 9.8 Gt of coal (carbon).

Mr. Riebesell said this amount of carbon is enough to cover the distance equivalent to 48 times the Earth's circumference or 4.9 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. Following that, the average pH measured on the ocean surface from 1850 has decreased from 8.2 to 8.1. This 0.1 reduction is equivalent to a 30% increase in acidity, an unprecedented increase in Earth's history.

The study concludes that ocean acid threat cannot currently be fully assessed and recommended that governments and planners should take early action to prevent potential environmental and human hazards. . increase interactions between business, politics and society to build a sustainable lifestyle and economy; promote the reduction of fossil fuel use.

BIOACID is a research project for 8 years (2009-2017) funded by the German Government and coordinated by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Ocean Research Center to better assess the effects of ocean acidification. More than 250 experts from 20 German research institutes have evaluated the impact of ocean acidification on marine life, food chain impacts, as well as the impact on economies and societies. Studies were conducted in the laboratory as well as in the field in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, Arctic regions and Papua New Guinea.