Final answer:
Ocean acidification is primarily caused by atmospheric CO2 dissolving in ocean water, forming carbonic acid and increasing ocean acidity. This can have detrimental effects on marine life, particularly those that depend on calcium carbonate for their shells and skeletons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that cause ocean acidity include a rise in concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the excess carbon dioxide that is absorbed by the oceans. When carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere dissolves in ocean water, it forms carbonic acid, which then releases hydrogen ions (H+), lowering the pH and increasing the acidity of the ocean.
The primary cause of ocean acidification is atmospheric CO2 dissolving in ocean water. This acidification process can adversely affect marine life, making it difficult for organisms like corals and shellfish to produce their hard exoskeletons due to the decreased availability of calcium carbonate, a critical component for their structures.
Additionally, ocean acidification threatens entire marine food webs and could lead to a significant decline in the number of marine organisms available for human consumption. This process is exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels, which increases the CO2 levels in the atmosphere and, subsequently, the ocean.