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| Samaun Fardosy Orthi |
Ocean acidification is a current process of continually
rising acidity in the ocean due to the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO 2 )
emission generated through human-produced activities of burning fossil fuels,
factory-related farming, and deforestation. The ocean waters recently have been
observed to go down to a pH of 8.1 as opposed to 8.2, which is a percentage
increment of about 30, since the industrial revolution. The projections alludes
to the fact that there is a possibility of ocean acidity declining further at
the rate of 0.3 to 0.4 PH units by 2100. The speedy acidification poses a
serious danger to marine life and environments and might render the oceans to
be acidic than they have been since the past 20 million years. Moreover, this
issue is exacerbated by farming pollution and soil erosion since such processes
contribute to elevated levels of CO 2 and trigger such phenomena as harmful
algal blooms, which further interfere with the chemistry of oceans.
The
Effects of Ocean Acidification on Marine Life
Ocean acidification is one of the most important aspects of
environmental concern caused by the increasing amount of the CO 2 in the
atmosphere. The levels of acidity to the ocean waters have escalated since the
18th century by about 25 percent and at a rate that has never been recorded in
the past 2 million years. Such a swift adaptation causes most maritime species
to be unable to physically adapt or migrate as they could with slower
environmental transitions.
The first impact of acidification is the decreased level of
carbonate ions in sea water that is required in the development of the
calcifying organisms like the mussels, sea urchin, oyster and the corals. They
need these ions in order to form the calcium carbonate compound, which is
present in their skeleton and shells. The effects of high acidity are that
shells, and skeletons lose strength, which also lowers the rates of
calcification, and extreme levels may cause the existing exoskeleton to
dissolve.
Marine fauna, similar to land dwellers maintain interior
homeostasis, and an acidic water environment compels them to spend more
metabolic energy in controlling internal pH balance. Such diversion of energy
impairs very important biological processes like shell growth, muscle
development, and reproduction. In extreme cases, some species such as the crabs
and the sea urchins may re-compose their shells to survive hence compromising
their general health.
Also, most marine organisms have complicated life cycles
starting with floating larvae grounds, which are notably sensitive to
acidification. Low-pH conditions frequently develop deformities amongst larvae
of sea urchins and oysters. Acidification also constitutes an interruption in
the cue of olfactory of predator avoidance in early stages of life with
significant fish species.
Therefore, Who is Most Affected by
Ocean Acidification?
Ocean acidification does not only affect the marine
ecosystem but it is also posing a serious risk to human society, specifically
to the human societies that rely on sea food as their source of food and
income. More than a billion individuals among the world population use seafood
as a source of protein where around 20 percent of the world population obtains
viable animal protein out of fish. Acidification poses a serious threat to the
fisheries and the aquaculture industries, which sustain millions of workers and
whole economies.
With the reduction in marine species, food security will deteriorate particularly in the developing countries that have few sources of alternative protein. This has the potential of growing nutritional insecurity, migration, rural-urban migration, and social instability. Geopolitical tensions in areas where people rely much on the maritime resources might also be aroused by the economic and social implications.
Future Ocean Acidification and Its
Vernacular Influence
The global carbon emissions have a great role to play in
determining the future of the ocean acidification. According to the
high-emission scenario (RCP8.5), the ocean is expected to become more acidic by
0.4 pH units at the end of this century. The acidification will however not be
even in the whole area. Temperatures It is predicted that polar seas and
regions of upwelling along the west coasts of continents will acidify faster
than tropical or temperate seas.
The acidity in some sections of the Arctic Ocean is already
becoming harmful with adverse effects being witnessed in shell forming
organisms. Near the California coast similar conditions of consumption have
been noticed and this makes the marine life in the area prone to crises.
We Must Act Swift: NOAA’s Vital Role
in Tackling Ocean Acidification
Human behaviors characterized by high levels of CO 2
emission, such as fossil fuel consumption and intensive farming, are making
ocean acidification accelerate. The oceans absorb this CO 2 and, as a result,
there are chemical changes, which cause seawater to get acidic and decrease the
availability of carbonate ions, which are required by the marine animals to
synthesize shells and skeletons. The rate of acidification has increased
putting marine organisms, especially shellfish, corals, and other calcifying
shelled organisms at risk that in effect, jeopardizes the ecosystem and its
dependent people.
Efforts to ensure less carbon emission and explore
protection of ocean ecosystems need to be done immediately. The fact that the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitors the ocean
chemistry, gives invaluable information used to predict the changes, and aids
industries and communities affected by acidification makes it play an important
role. NOAA is the chair of Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network
(GOA-ON) that monitors the ocean across the globe and confronts regions at highest
risks. In the United States, NOAA Ocean Acidification Program partners with
organizations like Integrated Ocean Observing System to create early warning
strategies to enable fisheries and brooder to make adjustment to shifting ocean
conditions. An example is how the data collected by NOAA influenced the
avoidance of the collapse of the West Coast shellfish industry whose value was
estimated to be more than 117 million dollars by giving directions to the
process of hatcheries when a high level of acidification is likely to lead to
the destruction of the young organisms.
The intensity of this environmental crisis requires more
funding, more significant cut in emissions and extend global collaboration. The
initiatives by leadership and scientists at NOAA is a sign of hope that can
leave the sluggish ocean in a more promising state of acidity and safeguard the
crucial marine resources.
Under conclusion,
Ocean acidification is among the most serious environmental
problems of the 21 st century that is posing a threat to marine biodiversity,
stability in ecosystem and global human food security. The fast escalation of
the acidity in the ocean which is majorly due to the anthropogenic emissions of
CO 2 impairs the life of vital marine organisms, especially calcifies, and is
breaking down the complicated marine food webs. This is dangerous to the
billions of individuals that rely on the sea resources to attain their
nutrition as well as their economic survival particularly in the developing
areas that are susceptible to shocks.
The response to those questions involves a global strategy
to address ocean acidification with an immediate priority of achieving the
drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the capability of
scientific monitoring and data-sharing programs and assisting the impacted
communities to adapt to the altered marine environment. Organizations like the
NOAA are important to ensure improvements in the research, early warning
systems, and policy directions to prevent the impacts. Unless immediate and
vigorous measures are taken, the results to marine life and human civilization
are going to be serious and enduring. Consequently, the safeguarding of the
ocean and its health by taking the necessary action through an extensive climate
policy and sustainable ocean policy should be a top priority amongst
governments, industries, and the global citizens.
Samaun Fardosy Orthi
Student, LL.B. (Hons.)
American International
University-Bangladesh (AIUB).