Acidic Oceans

With rising CO2 levels on the planet, there is no doubt that the oceans are becoming increasingly more acidic.

How do oceans become so acidic? 

Earths oceans absorb roughly one third of the CO2 created by humans. The problem here is that CO2 reacts with seawater to create carbonic acid.

The pH of the ocean over the past 300 million years has been basic, at 8.2. The pH is now at 8.1, this means that the oceans acidity has risen 25% over the past two centuries.

http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean+Acidification

What's the problem? 
The problem with the oceans becoming more acidic is that it will affect the ecosystems food chain. Acidity affects coral reefs, killing them. Coral reefs are home to thousands of marine animals and organisms. Acidification would also affect the fishing industry which would further affect peoples food supplies and security.

http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-acidification

This picture above shows a sea butterfly that was placed in a container of acidic sea water and over 45 days it decayed this much.

The ability for the ocean to absorb anthropogenic CO2 is decreasing, which will further increase global warming.

http://climateinterpreter.org/content/effects-ocean-acidification-coral-reefs

What does change look like? 

Acidification has increased so rapidly in the past two hundred years, that scientists have pushed policy makers to start making changes fast. Because acidification has to do with CO2, it correlates with climate change. These policy makers working on this issue are making efforts to lower carbon emissions that cause alarming increases in ocean acidity.

http://www.slideshare.net/terrya/terry-anderson-alt-c-final