Ocean acidification refers to the increasing acidity levels of the world’s oceans. This is due to human activity.
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by about 40%1 above pre-industrial levels. Carbon dioxide levels are now unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years.
The world’s oceans are important carbon sinks, absorbing around 30%2 of the additional carbon dioxide emissions every year. This slows the rate at which carbon dioxide levels are rising in the atmosphere, but it is also changing the chemistry of the oceans. (…)
The Australian Climate Change Science Programme, 2014. What is ocean acidification and how will it impact on marine life? Report.
