IndexIntroductionUnderstanding Ocean AcidificationCauses and Impacts of Ocean AcidificationEffects of Ocean AcidificationClean Energy Solutions for Ocean AcidificationConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionOcean Acidification, a Continuous Decrease of the pH of the Earth's oceans, is mainly caused by the increasing amount of carbon dioxide and the increasing temperature of the Arctic Ocean. Statistically, over the last two hundred years, ocean pH has dropped by 30% globally (Orr et al., 2005), meaning that this change is large enough that ocean acidification has already the potential to influence some of the oceans and biological conditions. important residents. This requires drastic solutions to ocean acidification. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Understanding Ocean AcidificationThe oceans absorb the majority of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which plays a critical role in regulating the climate, however, the unprecedented amounts of carbon dioxide created today have surpassed what the ocean can normally absorb, changing the chemistry of the oceans and making them more acidic (Orr et al., 2005). The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide comes primarily from increased use of fossil fuels and deforestation. Causes and impacts of ocean acidification Humans burn large quantities of fossil fuels for energy uses, including gasoline for automobiles, heating oil, and natural gas used to generate electricity. 37% of global emissions come from internationally traded fossil fuels (Davis et al., 2011). In addition to energy use, significant fractions of fossil fuels are used for non-energy applications. When fossil fuels are used for non-energy purposes, there are several ways to demonstrate how this can ultimately lead to carbon dioxide emissions. Chemicals such as solvents can cause carbon dioxide emissions after use due to oxidation in the atmosphere, for example after applying a solvent-based paint with a brush in an open space. Another route of carbon dioxide coming from non-energy uses is represented by some industrial processes. If some of the feedstock is oxidized in chemical conversion, as in the case of hydrogen production, this is generally considered to be an intrinsic characteristic of the chemical process and not combustion of the fuel. In this case, the resulting carbon dioxide is referred to as industrial process emissions (Freed et al., 2005). Deforestation is also mainly caused by human elements. Human populations play a direct role in deforestation by clearing land for gardens, cutting down trees for timber, firewood, etc. Furthermore, in many forested areas, native tree species have been replaced by economically valuable introduced species. And human colonization introduces fire as a powerful force in the deforestation of the island. It is particularly significant in the case of dry island deforestation because traditional agricultural systems often rely on fire to clear fields, and on dry islands where there is a high risk of wildfires spreading and burning (Van der Werf et al., 2010 ). The release of methane from hydrate melting in shallow regions of the Arctic Ocean could exacerbate ocean acidification in the water column. Destabilization of hydrates canoccur in the Arctic in response to global warming, and the potential for methane release is substantial but limited over the next 100 years (Biastoch et al., 2011). Large quantities of methane hydrates are potentially stored in sediments along continental margins, due to their stable conditions of low temperature and high pressure. Global warming could destabilize these hydrates and cause a release of methane (CH4) into the water column and possibly the atmosphere. The resulting warming is spatially uneven, with the strongest impact on shallow regions affected by Atlantic inflow. Over the next 100 years, warming will affect 25% of surface and ocean surfaces, medium-depth regions containing methane hydrates. The release of methane from hydrate melting in these areas could increase ocean acidification and oxygen depletion in the water column (Biastoch et al., 2011). Effects of Ocean Acidification Changes in marine ecosystems and economic devastation are two major effects of ongoing ocean acidification. Coral reefs, an ecosystem recognized as vulnerable to ocean acidification, have begun to show signs of decline that may be due to ocean acidification. Some of the larger reef-forming corals of the Great Barrier Reef show a reduction in skeletal growth of more than 14% since 1990 (De'ath et al., 2009). Sea turtles are some of the most endangered marine animals and are often found resting and feeding within coral reefs. As ocean acidification worsens, the abundance of coral reef species will likely decline, which could result in turtle feeding behaviors and push them to turn to less nutritious food sources or even starve (Bonin et al., 2006). In addition to related marine organisms, healthy coral reefs provide goods and services to society, including fisheries, coastal protection, tourism, education and aesthetic values. In Hawaii alone, coral reefs generate $364 million through tourism each year. If coral reefs were to collapse due to increased acidity, global warming, and other threats, coastal communities would bear the brunt of these losses (Sukhdev et al., 2010). Serious health consequences could cause an estimated 30 million people to rely almost exclusively on coral reef ecosystems for protein and protection. Potential losses from the decline of coral reefs will be felt from the smallest subsistence coastal communities right through to the global economy (Wilkinson & C, 2008). Furthermore, many scientists estimate that the major reef-building organisms, calcifying corals and macroalgae, will calcify 10-50% less than pre-industrial rates by the middle of this century. This decrease in calcification will likely affect their ability to function within the ecosystem and will almost certainly affect the functioning of the ecosystem itself (Kleypas & Yates, 2009). However, ocean acidification affects not only corals but also the reefs they build. The decline in calcium carbonate production, coupled with an increase in calcium carbonate dissolution, will diminish coral reefs and the benefits that coral reefs provide, such as the high structural complexity that supports biodiversity on coral reefs and the breakwater effects that protect coastlines and create tranquil habitats for other ecosystems, such as mangroves and seagrass meadows(Kleypas & Yates, 2009). By the middle of this century, if carbon dioxide emissions continue unabated, coral reefs could erode through natural processes faster than they can grow their skeletons due to the combined pressures of rising acidity and global warming (Silverman et al., 2009). Coral reefs can change dramatically from the structures that so many species rely on for habitat, meaning that as corals face severe decline or even extinction, the survival of reef-dependent species will also be threatened . Although they cover just over 1% of the world's continental shelves, coral reefs represent an important habitat for over 25% of all marine fish species (Knowlton et al., 2010). As reef habitat becomes less available, reef-dependent fish will decline as a result. The coral bleaching event is an example to explain the relationship between coral reefs and reef-dependent fish species. For example, after an event in Papua New Guinea, 75% of coral reef fish species declined in abundance and several species even became extinct (Jones et al., 2004). As early as 2050, pteropods may be unable to form calcium carbonate shells, which would jeopardize their ability to survive (Orr et al., 2005). If they fail to adapt to living in more acidic waters, their populations will plummet, which could affect the food webs that depend on them (Doney et al., 2009). North Pacific salmon that rely heavily on pteropods for food (Aydin et al., 2005). Furthermore, in 2007, the North Pacific salmon fishery provided three billion dollars in personal income to fishermen and others and supported 35,000 jobs in fish harvesting and processing alone (Orr et al., 2005). Therefore, as pteropods decline, North Pacific salmon and other commercially important fish species that eat pteropods, including mackerel and herring, would risk collapse and directly result in decreased personal or fishing income and job losses . Furthermore, the decline of smaller species, such as pteropods and salmon, could reverberate throughout the oceans, ultimately affecting larger marine species. For example, the Chukchi and Northern Bering Seas are some of the richest fishing grounds in the world and are home to predators as diverse as gray whales, seals, and walruses, all of which depend on marine calcifiers for food. Resident orcas in the North Pacific prefer to eat salmon, with nearly 96% of the diet of some orcas consisting of salmon (Fabry et al., 2009). When the base of the food web disappears, the upper food web also immediately disappears. If top predators are unable to supplement their diets with other food sources, food webs may even collapse entirely. Ocean acidification can also affect mollusc species such as sea urchins, damselfish and brittle stars. Sea urchins on the reef, crucial herbivorous animals in any environment, help protect the reef by eating some algae. They reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm directly into the surrounding seawater. However, the sperm of some sea urchins swim more slowly under acidified conditions (Reuter et al., 2010), which reduces their chances of finding and fertilizing an egg, forming an embryo, and developing into sea urchin larvae (Havenhand et al., 2008). . Most of the embryos and larvae ofsea ​​urchins are eaten by fish and as a result only a few survivors mature into adults. Although sea urchins normally release millions of eggs and sperm into the surrounding water to compensate for this low success rate, scientists have predicted that more acidic conditions could reduce the number of sperm released by some species, thus further decreasing their size. of the next generation of sea urchins. sea ​​urchins by the end of this century (Reuter et al., 2010). Furthermore, like many other calcifying organisms, such as corals, pteropods and oysters, sea urchins are likely to find it more difficult to build their calcium carbonate skeletons in an acidified ocean. Young sea urchins have been observed to grow more slowly and have thinner, smaller, and misshapen protective shells when raised in acidified conditions. Slower growth rates and deformed shells can make urchins more vulnerable to predators and decrease their ability to survive (Brennand et al., 2010). As a result, slower shell growth is likely to reduce the ability of mollusks to survive, which would have a significant impact on commercial fisheries. If this growth slowdown had continued uninterrupted, shellfish fisheries would have lost between $75 and $187 million (Cooley & Doney, 2009). In addition to smell, some reef fish, such as damselfish, rely on hearing to find their way back to their native reef. They listen to the sounds of a coral reef using otoliths, which are calcium carbonate structures similar to human ear bones. Using their otoliths, fish larvae can separate the low-frequency sounds of crashing waves, currents, and surface winds of the open ocean from the high-frequency sounds of a coral reef's gurgling, snapping, and snapping. Damselfish larvae use these distinct noises to return to their natal reef and away from the open ocean (Gagliano et al., 2008). However, carbon dioxide concentrations predicted around the end of this century have been observed to alter the normal development of otoliths in the larvae of an open ocean fish, the white sea bass (Asch, R. 2009). Increased otolith growth could make it difficult for fish to locate appropriate reef habitat and cause population declines. Larger than normal otoliths in damselfish have been shown to decrease their ability to recognize sounds and return to a reef (Gagliano et al., 2008). Brittle stars also play a crucial role in the environment as burrowers and as a food source for larger predators such as flatfish. The thin arms of a brittle star break when the animal senses danger, and under normal conditions, they can quickly regenerate. Although brittle stars can still regenerate their arms in acidic conditions, they do so with less muscle mass than usual (Gooding et al., 2009). The brittle stars not only created insufficient muscle for their new arms to function properly, but they also ate away existing arm muscles to provide energy for the now much more difficult process of building calcium carbonate. The weakened arms could reduce the ability of brittle stars to survive in a more acidic ocean. Increased acidity is also likely to threaten fragile star larvae (Dupont et al., 2010). It appears that brittle stars are very vulnerable to increasing ocean acidity as both adults and larvae, which would result in severe population declines in the future. In addition to the species ofmolluscs, even animals without shells or skeletons will be affected by ocean acidification such as clownfish and cardinalfish. The larvae of reef-dwelling fish hatch on the reef and migrate to the open ocean where they spend the next two to three weeks drifting. When the larvae are ready to return to their home reefs, they use their sense of smell and sound to guide them back (Munday et al., 2009). Unfortunately, under more acidic conditions, larvae may not be able to distinguish between the odors of a suitable home and a hostile environment, which could lead to their death (Dixson et al., 2010). Additionally, clownfish also use their sense of smell to avoid predators. While under higher carbon dioxide conditions expected around the end of this century, this olfactory-related predator defense system is disrupted and most returning clownfish larvae are no longer able to discern between predator signals and non-predatory (Munday et al., 2010). And rising carbon dioxide levels in seawater can reduce the ability of some fish to breathe, such as cardinalfish. Cardinal fish have been found to be particularly vulnerable to increasingly acidic conditions. The ability to absorb oxygen decreased by up to 47% in one species of cardinalfish when exposed to levels of carbon dioxide similar to those expected by the end of this century. The reduced ability to breathe will be more likely to impact cardinalfish, including reduced ability to feed, grow, and reproduce, which could result in negative consequences for the sustainability of cardinalfish populations. As the acidity of the oceans increases, they simultaneously become warmer due to climate change. Rising temperatures combined with acidity levels predicted by the end of this century have proven lethal to a species of cardinalfish tested in a laboratory. These findings are particularly concerning, especially if they apply to other species as they show that while individuals may be able to survive a threat, they are less able to withstand the simultaneous threats of rising temperatures and ocean acidification (Munday et al. , 2009). Clean energy solutions for ocean acidification Preserving natural resilience and reducing carbon dioxide emissions are potential preventative measures that prevent ocean acidification from worsening to the point of severely affecting marine ecosystems and further economic devastation. To preserve natural resilience, we must reduce human-caused threats, particularly overfishing, to maintain the natural resilience of marine ecosystems. Overfishing has profoundly affected the world's oceans both directly and indirectly. For example, fisheries scientists recently estimated that over the past 50 years the global biomass of large predatory fish – such as tuna and swordfish – has declined by 90% and the diversity of these fish has declined by 10-50% (Myers & Worm 2003; Worm et al. 2005). Declining fish populations are often particularly hard on poor coastal communities – both in the Global North and South – where many people depend on fishing (and fishing-related industries, such as boat building and fish processing) for food and employment. The overfishing crisis, therefore, has both environmental and socioeconomic dimensions because overfishing is a problem for fish, their ecosystems, and the people who depend on them (Mansfield, 2010). Home energy and personal transportation are the top two factors that, 106(21), 7795-7800.