Variation in seawater pH is just one response to the increased CO2concentration in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities. The decrease in pH has a significant effect on the carbonate chemistry of the ocean and causes a decrease in the calcium carbonate saturation state (Ω). Ten years of experimental pH measurements at the ESTOC station show a progressive reduction on pH in the ocean (-0.0017 ± 0.0002 year–1) and its effects on its carbonate chemistry. The calcium carbonate saturation state decreases by 0.018 ± 0.006 unit year–1for calcite and 0.012 ± 0.004 unit year–1for aragonite. The direct consequences of the pH decrease are a decrease in the buffer capacity (-1.99 ± 0.25 µmol kg–1year–1) and an increase in the Revelle factor (0.02 ± 0.002 year–1) of the surface seawater.
Santana-Casiano J. M., & González-Dávila M., 2011. pH Decrease and Effects on the Chemistry of Seawater. In: Duarte P. & Santana-Casiano J. M. (Eds.), Oceans and the Atmospheric Carbon Content, pp. 95-114. Berlin: Springer. Book chapter (subscription required).
