CO2 effect on ocean acidification
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- The ocean absorbs CO2, but the rate is too much for it to handle naturally.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air is causing ocean acidification.
- Over time, the surface waters of the ocean have become slightly more acidic.
- The pH of the ocean has decreased by about 0.1 unit since the start of the industrial revolution.
- Currently, the ocean is around pH 8.0, which is still basic.
- Even though it’s not turning into a strong acid, the term “ocean acidification” is used because the overall trend is moving towards increased acidity.
- The 0.1 pH unit decrease represents a 26% increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions in the ocean.
- “Ocean acidification” is used to highlight the direction of the trend, emphasizing that the waters are becoming less basic over time.
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