5.7 The Impact of Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification has enormous implications for the functioning of natural systems. However, its human impact cannot be overlooked either. Engage with your peers in the discussion below to answer these two questions:

I got involved in the discussion but I also wanted to post here. WARNING - I don't seem to have anything very positive to say about these subjects this week...

1. Will marine organisms be able to adapt to ocean acidification given the time scale for the predicted changes?

The acidification is happening at an unprecedented rate. pH levels have, historically, been as low as those predicted in the future. But the change was gradual. Species had time to adapt to the altered habitat around them. They had time to evolve. What we are seeing now does not allow for that. As the bottom of the food chain falters the consequences will make their way through to the larger species, rendering our oceans, eventually, unrecognisable.

2. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is likely to lead to sea level rise. Are rising sea levels more of a threat to humanity than ocean acidification?

A rising sea level affects coastal communities around the world; approximately 150 million people live within 1 meter of current sea level. And that’s not taking into account any increase in future population. Think of the displacement of people this would create. A greater density of people, an instable climate in which farming is uncertain. We would need to harvest food from the sea. It’s quite possible that, given our current fishing crisis there would be a shortage. Then, if you take out of the equation the animals that would be unable to reproduce in an acidified ocean, we can say that we’re left with a whole lot of problem. I think the two are going to happen simultaneously. How can we separate the two?