by James G

Increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the air have serious repercussions on the world’s oceans, which absorb roughly one third of the air-born carbon dioxide emissions resulting from human activities. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid, thus increasing the acidity level of the water. Furthermore, recent studies confirm that seawater is increasing in acidity at a rate much faster than what climate predictions had initially suggested.
This increase in the oceans acidity may have negative effects on marine life. Seashells, coral reefs, and large-shelled animals are in particular danger because they contain calcium carbonate, a substance that dissolves in acidic water. The rise in acidity may not be completely linked to increases in carbon dioxide in the air however. Researchers acknowledge that their findings may be somewhat influenced by nearby swells of deep ocean water loaded with carbon, indicating that their findings may not represent the oceans as a whole.

Questions:
1) Does this rise in the oceans acidity pose any dangers to human’s that have direct contact with it?
2) Considering that carbon dioxide can be absorbed by all water and not necessarily salt-water, can increases in carbon emissions have detrimental effects on fresh water organisms, and reserves for drinking water?

Sources:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=ocean-acidification

• Global ground surface temperature
• Soil temperatures
• Ocean surface temperature
• Average snow coverage (decreased)
• Permafrost coverage
• Glacial ice melt
  and more.

The top ten warmest years on record all fall in the the last 13 years.

Source: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (2009, January 19). 2008 Global Temperature Ties As Eighth Warmest On Record. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 19, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090116163206.htm

Related sites: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2008/2008-12-18-02.asp