Anthropogenic carbon emissions are increasing atmospheric carbon concentrations. Global oceans absorb about one-fourth of these emissions each year (Friedlingstein et al., 2020). Seawater’s carbon absorption initiates several chemical reactions, including the production of carbonic acid, reduction in the availability of calcium carbonate ion, and declining pH (Doney et al. 2009). This process of chemical changes is called ocean acidification (OA). Models predict that under a “business as usual” greenhouse gas emissions scenario (RCP 8.5), the ocean may become 150% more acidified by 2100 (Phillips et al. 2018 and references therein). As with many climate change impacts, OA is occurring and interacting with many other stressors including ocean warming anddeoxygenation, and non-climate-related stressors like development, habitat degradation and pollution (IPCC 2019). In coastal systems, processes including upwelling, nutrient loading (magnified by wastewater), pollutions and freshwater inputs can further exacerbate conditions (Duarte et al. 2013 and references therein).
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Turner J. By guest editors & Laschever E., 2021. Introduction to Coastal Management Journal special issue on ocean acidification. Coastal Management 49(5): 431-435. Article.
