Question

Discuss how the human disruption of the carbon cycle has caused ocean acidification.

Answer 1

The human disruption of the carbon cycle through burning fossil fuels has led to increased atmospheric CO2, which when absorbed by the oceans, causes ocean acidification. This process threatens marine life, especially organisms that rely on calcium carbonate for their shells and skeletons, and could lead to widespread ecological and food supply issues.

Step-by-step explanation:

Human disruption of the carbon cycle has significantly contributed to ocean acidification. When we burn fossil fuels, we release vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. This CO2 is then absorbed by the world's oceans, where it reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid, which subsequently lowers the pH of the ocean, making it more acidic.

This increase in ocean acidity has serious implications for marine life, particularly for calcifying organisms like corals and shellfish. These organisms rely on calcium carbonate to build their exoskeletons and shells, but as acidity increases, the available calcium carbonate decreases, making it harder for these organisms to grow and survive. This not only affects the organisms themselves but also the entire marine food web they support, ultimately impacting human food sources as well.

The increase in ocean acidity, currently measured as a 25% increase since pre-industrial times, is projected to continue as CO2 concentrations are expected to increase. This could lead to a significant decline in coral calcification rates and the loss of coral reefs, which serve as critical habitats for many marine species. The negative effects of ocean acidification are a stark reminder of the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to non-carbon energy sources.

Answer 2

The oceans are one of the three major carbon sinks on the planet, meaning that they accumulate enormous amounts of the atmospheric carbon in them. While there is a natural balance between the storing of carbon in the ocean waters and the releasing of it in the atmosphere, except when there is dramatic changes, it seems that the humans now are becoming a big factor. The humans with their activities have started to propel much more carbon into the atmosphere than what the natural cycle propels. Big portion of that carbon is ending in the ocean waters. When in contact with the ocean waters, the carbon reacts with the water and it results in acidification if the amount of carbon is high enough. The acidification of the ocean waters changes the living conditions for the marine organisms, so lot of start to die out, and if that continues it can result in a mass extinction of the marine life.