A groundbreaking study published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters presents an innovative framework for governments worldwide to assess their preparedness for one of the most critical threats to marine ecosystems: ocean acidification. The research, conducted by an international team of scientists from over a dozen institutions, including the California Academy of Sciences, aims to guide future policies addressing the issue.
“Ocean acidification is one of climate change’s silent killers,” said Dr. Rebecca Albright, founder of the Coral Regeneration Lab (CoRL). “While not as high-profile as threats like coral bleaching, ocean acidification will cause widespread destruction of marine environments by the end of this decade if we don’t take urgent action.”
Ocean acidification is a process that occurs when the pH of seawater decreases due to the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. As humans release more CO2 through activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, a significant portion of this excess CO2 dissolves into the oceans.
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Eric Ralls, earth.com, 29 March 2023. Article.
