The ocean has been taking up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate against climate change, with carbon dioxide dissolving in seawater to become part of the marine carbonate system. However, the rate at which carbon dioxide has been taken up by the ocean since the industrial era has far exceeded the ocean’s natural ability to buffer changes in the chemistry through geological weathering processes. As a result, the ocean is becoming more acidic—a phenomenon known as ocean acidification (OA). These changes are observable and are being monitored around the world. Ocean models are able to project how these changes will continue in the future, depending on emissions scenarios. The consequences of OA are already being felt in some marine systems, including impacting key shellfish and plankton. Laboratory and field experiments show that as OA continues, more detrimental impacts will occur resulting in shifts in ecosystem functioning and ultimately impacting crucial ecosystem services that the ocean provides. The only way to stop further OA is to halt carbon dioxide emissions.
Findlay H. S., Stokes L. A. & Turley C., 2026. 8 – Ocean Acidification. In: Letcher T. M. (Eds.), Indicators of Climate Change, pp. 163-197. Elsevier. Chapter.
