Ocean acidification could cause extinction of marine species

Much of the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by human activity that is released into the atmosphere is absorbed by the oceans. However, since the levels of CO2 emissions are increasing, also gas adsorption by the oceans increases.

The absorption of CO2 by the oceans is a natural process, essential for maintaining thermal equilibrium on the planet. However, the CO2 changes the chemical composition of the water as it reduces pH levels and makes it more acidic. Once the CO2 absorption levels are higher acidity levels increase at the same rate â€" a change that threatens aquatic life.

This increase in ocean acidification and its consequences were depicted in a new study published in the journal Paleoceanography. The investigation, conducted by the University of California-Santa Cruz, Yale and Columbia, reveals that the process of acidification is occurring ten times faster than in the Paleocene-Eocene thermal Maximum, a period of drastic climatic changes that occurred there are 56 million years ago and became extinct several aquatic species and forced the evolution of others. During this period, which lasted approximately 70,000 years, global average temperatures have risen about 11.6 degrees Celsius.

Increasing acidification of waters is already a serious threat to many marine ecosystems, such as coral barriers. However, the acidification of waters is also a danger for the human species, since it depends on the food provided by the oceans. Another study, shows that ocean acidification is eroding the conhas of a species of small marine snails, which are source of food for the salmon, mackerel and herring, which are in turn food for humans and other larger fish.

The Intergovernmental Panel on climate change estimates that the acidification of marine waters and other effects produced by climate change can reduce the amount of fish available for fishing, a reduction that may have an impact of €10,3 billion for the fishing industry in 2050, referred to Discovery News.

Photo: Creative Commons/Sesimbra/pedrosimoes7

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