When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, the water becomes more acidic and the oceans pH (a measure of how acidic or basic the ocean is) drops. Only one species, the polychaete worm Syllis prolifers, was more abundant in lower pH water. Share The pH will vary significantly depending on the ecosystem. Healthy oyster reefs provide shelter for fish and crabs, and they filter water clear of tiny algae and particles. The lower the pH, the more acidic the solution. Boring sponges drill into coral skeletons and scallop shells more quickly. Because sustained efforts to monitor ocean acidification worldwide are only beginning, it is currently impossible to predict exactly how ocean acidification impacts will cascade throughout the marine food web and affect the overall structure of marine ecosystems. Students will simulate the effects of decreasing pH caused by increasing atmospheric CO 2levels. Instruct students to read the article and answer the accompanying questions in their groups. National Science Teaching Association
Of course, the loss of these organisms would have much larger effects in the food chain, as they are food and habitat for many other animals. The physiology of many marine species, from microbes to fish, may be affected. EPOCA's goal is to document ocean acidification, investigate its impact on biological processes, predict its consequences over the next 100 years, and advise policy-makers on potential. Seagrasses form shallow-water ecosystems along coasts that serve as nurseries for many larger fish, and can be home to thousands of different organisms. They typically include a summary of the case, teaching objectives, information about the intended audience, details about how the case may be taught, and a list of references and resources. If we continue to add carbon dioxide at current rates, seawater pH may drop another 120 percent by the end of this century, to 7.8 or 7.7, creating an ocean more acidic than any seen for the past 20 million years or more. Credit and Larger Version, Coral reefs in the tropics and beyond are threatened by ocean acidification. Connect with us online An official website of the United States government. Credit and Larger Version, NSF ocean acidification grantees are researching U.S. West Coast intertidal zonation. D. Carbon cycle. If the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere stabilizes, eventually buffering (or neutralizing) will occur and pH will return to normal. The full impacts of acidification are unknown, but at some point reduced pH could be disastrous biologically. A shell placed in seawater with increased acidity slowly dissolves over 45 days. Since the beginning of the industrial era, the ocean has absorbed some 525 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, presently around 22 million tons per day. This may happen because acidification, which changes the pH of a fish's body and brain, could alter how the brain processes information. If jellyfish thrive under warm and more acidic conditions while most other organisms suffer, its possible that jellies will dominate some ecosystems (a problem already seen in parts of the ocean). Many economies are dependent on fish and shellfish and people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as their primary source of protein. For example, the deepwater coral Lophelia pertusa shows a significant decline in its ability to maintain its calcium-carbonate skeleton during the first week of exposure to decreased pH. Credit and Larger Version, Earth's oceans may be acidifying faster today than in the past 300 million years. Coral reefs aren't just bleachingthey're literally dissolving away because of climate change. This feature investigates the causes of ocean acidification, its effect on New Zealand's oceans and New Zealand's efforts to monitor this complex issue. For example, corals are growing about 16 percent slower than in the 1990s in Australia's . Geologists study the potential effects of acidification by digging into Earths past when ocean carbon dioxide and temperature were similar to conditions found today. Drive less. Let us know. Information on how ocean acidification will impact ecosystems and the services they provide can help guide how we adapt to and mitigate forecasted changes. Scientists from five European countries built ten mesocosmsessentially giant test tubes 60-feet deep that hold almost 15,000 gallons of waterand placed them in the Swedish Gullmar Fjord. That is a big problem. The case is divided into three sections, each with a different focus. Now they are waiting to see how the organisms will react, and whether they're able to adapt. Students use straws to blow into beakers filled with artificial seawater and measure the change in pH. In 2013, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere passed 400 parts per million (ppm)higher than at any time in the last one million years (and maybe even 25 million years). Ocean acidification is expected to impact ocean species to varying degrees. A beach clean-up in Malaysia brings young people together to care for their coastline. Instagram: instagram.com/nsfgov, From carbon emissions to the oceans: Land and sea interact in ocean acidification. A NOAA-funded study has documented that ocean acidification along the U.S. Pacific Northwest coast is impacting the shells and sensory organs of some young Dungeness crab, a prized crustacean that supports the most valuable fishery on the West Coast. When CO2 is absorbed by seawater, a series of chemical reactions occur resulting in the increased concentration of hydrogen ions. After letting plankton and other tiny organisms drift or swim in, the researchers sealed the test tubes and decreased the pH to 7.8, the expected acidity for 2100, in half of them. Ocean acidification targets the density of the skeleton, silently whittling away the coral's strength, much like osteoporosis weakens bones in humans. Ocean acidification is sometimes called "climate change's equally evil twin," and for good reason: it's a significant and harmful consequence of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that we don't see or feel because its effects are happening underwater. In fact, the definitions of acidification termsacidity, H+, pH are interlinked: acidity describes how many H+ ions are in a solution; an acid is a substance that releases H+ ions; and pH is the scale used to measure the concentration of H+ ions. Currently, the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas for human industry is one of the major causes . Our new web story provides a high-level look at all impacts of this problem, where it is happening, and what needs to happen next. But the changes in the direction of increasing acidity are still dramatic. While fish don't have shells, they will still feel the effects of acidification. A growing body of research indicates that acidification in the Arctic Ocean could have implications for the Arctic ecosystem, including influences on algae, zooplankton, and fish. Early studies found that, like other shelled animals, their shells weakened, making them susceptible to damage. During the experiment, CCA developed 25% cover in the control mesocosms and only 4% in the acidified mesocosms, representing an 86% relative reduction. B. Phosphorus cycle. Lisa Suatoni: Since the industrial revolution, the ocean acidity has increased by 30 percent. uses ocean acidification as a method to apply more traditional chemistry concepts (i.e., solubility, acids - bases). Scientists dont yet know why this happened, but there are several possibilities: intense volcanic activity, breakdown of ocean sediments, or widespread fires that burned forests, peat, and coal. For News Media: nsf.gov/news/newsroom Explanation: the passage says the fossil fuel habits have led to ocean acidification and fossil fuels are known for emitting CO2 which means this gas is causing ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is a problem that impacts the ocean ecosystem as well as commercial industries like oyster farms. In humans, for instance, a drop in blood pH of 0.2-0.3 can cause seizures, comas, and even death. The final phase provided an article on ocean acidification effects on a marine snail, the sea butterfly (Limacina helicina), to help students . Clownfish also stray farther from home and have trouble "smelling" their way back. Second, this process binds up carbonate ions and makes them less abundantions that corals, oysters, mussels, and many other shelled organisms need to build shells and skeletons. biogeochemical cycling, as well as human impacts on the ocean. Aim: To produce an A-level case study on the topic of ocean acidification in the Arctic Ocean, to include: an overview of key processes facts and figures sketch maps and diagrams But coralline algae, which build calcium carbonate skeletons and help cement coral reefs, do not fare so well. For a true comprehension of how acidification will change the oceans, he says, we must integrate paleoecology with marine chemistry, physics, ecology and an understanding of the past environmental conditions on Earth. Part III examines the effects of ocean acidification on the shell of a marine snail, the sea butterfly (Limacina helicina). How will ocean acidification impact Earth's biodiversity? One study found that, in acidifying conditions, coralline algae covered 92 percent less area, making space for other types of non-calcifying algae, which can smother and damage coral reefs. A pteropod shell is shown dissolving over time in seawater with a lower pH. Because of human-driven increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, there is more CO2 dissolving into the ocean. Use an I Do, We Do, You Do format to find the slope (m) of each line in the NOAA Hawaii Carbon Dioxide Time-Series graph, using Part B of the Ocean Acidification Trends handout (see Tip) to track your calculations. At least one-quarter of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released by burning coal, oil and gas doesn't stay in the air, but instead dissolves into the ocean. Shell-building organisms can't extract the carbonate ion they need from bicarbonate, preventing them from using that carbonate to grow new shell. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Ocean acidification - caused by increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - is having detrimental effects on marine life globally. For most species, including worms, mollusks, and crustaceans, the closer to the vent (and the more acidic the water), the fewer the number of individuals that were able to colonize or survive. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. Water and carbon dioxide combine to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), a weak acid that breaks (or dissociates) into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-). Researchers have already discovered severe levels of pteropod shell dissolution offsite link in the Southern Ocean, which encircles Antarctica. However, this solution does nothing to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and this carbon dioxide would continue to dissolve into the ocean and cause acidification. Earth system history informs our understanding of the effects of ocean acidification in the present and the future, says Garrison. The Short Answer: Ocean acidification is a change in the properties of ocean water that can be harmful for plants and animals. One of the molecules that hydrogen ions bond with is carbonate (CO3-2), a key component of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) shells. Ocean acidification is currently affecting the entire ocean, including coastal estuaries and waterways. Ocean Acidification Lesson 3: Practical task Key question: How can the process of ocean acidification be replicated in the laboratory, enabling us to consider its potential impacts on global ecosystems? Credit and Larger Version, NSF ocean acidification grantees are researching U.S. West Coast intertidal zonation. Telephone numbers or other contact information may The passage seems to suggest that calcium carbonate in Pteropods' shells is being dissolved/damaged due to this CO2. The data include historical estimations since the Industrial Revolution as well as recent emission projections from the past few decades. But the more acidic seawater eats away at their shells before they can form; this has already caused massive oyster die-offs in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Ocean acidification results from an increased concentration of hydrogen ions and a reduction in carbonate ions due to the absorption of . Statistics: nsf.gov/statistics/ The eggs and larvae of only a few coral species have been studied, and more acidic water didnt hurt their development while they were still in the plankton. Materials are provided for 20 - 30 students to work in 5 groups of 4 - 6 students per group. And . Educate your classmates, coworkers and friends about how acidification will affect the amazing ocean animals that provide food, income, and beauty to billions of people around the world. If we continue to pollute as we are right now, the ocean acidity will double by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial times. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION OVERVIEW This hands-on activity supplements the 2014 Holiday Lectures: Biodiversity in the Age of Humans. The ocean itself is not actually acidic in the sense of having a pH less than 7, and it wont become acidic even with all the CO2 that is dissolving into the ocean. (T) 703.524.3646 (F) 703.243.7177 Acidification may limit coral growth by corroding pre-existing coral skeletons while simultaneously slowing the growth of new ones, and the weaker reefs that result will be more vulnerable to erosion. Atmospheric CO 2 has risen by about 40 percent above pre-industrial levels. Ocean acidification is mainly caused by carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere dissolving into the ocean. Nonetheless, in the next century we will see the common types of coral found in reefs shiftingthough we can't be entirely certain what that change will look like. An Investigation into Ocean Acidification By Diara D. Spain, Vanessa M. Mendoza Abstract This directed case study covers fundamental information about ocean acidification using relevant examples from general science news articles as well as data excerpted from scientific research. "These projects include studies of whether populations of animals have the genetic capacity to adapt to ocean acidification. Coastal acidification represents a significant environmental change associated with nutrient . Answer Key 1. NSF 2012 Ocean Acidification awardees, their institutions and projects are: Jess Adkins, California Institute of Technology: Ocean acidification: Collaborative research: Measuring the kinetics of CaCO3 dissolution in seawater using novel isotope labeling, laboratory experiments, and in situ experiments, William Balch, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: Ocean acidification: Effects of ocean acidification on Emiliania huxleyi and Calanus finmarchicus; Insights into the oceanic alkalinity and biological carbon pumps, Joan Bernhard, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Ocean acidification, hypoxia and warming: Experimental investigations into compounded effects of global change on benthic foraminifera, Robert Byrne, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida: Ocean acidification: Collaborative research: Investigation of seawater CO2 system thermodynamics under high pCO2 conditions, Anne Cohen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Toward predicting the impact of ocean acidification on net calcification by a broad range of coral reef ecosystems: Identifying patterns and underlying causes, Erik Cordes, Temple University: Ocean acidification: Physiological and genetic responses of the deep-water coral, Lophelia pertusa, to ongoing ocean acidification in the Gulf of Mexico, Robyn Hannigan, University of Massachusetts Boston: Ocean acidification: Effects on morphology and mineralogy in otoliths of larval reef fish, Donal Manahan, University of Southern California: Ocean acidification: Predicting "winners and losers" to ocean acidification--a physiological genomic study of genetically-determined variance during larval development, Figen Mekik, Grand Valley State University: Carbonate preservation in pelagic sediments: Developing a new aragonite preservation proxy, Bruce Menge, Oregon State University: Ocean acidification: Collaborative research: OMEGAS II- Linking ecological and organismal responses to the ocean acidification seascape in the California Current System, T. Aran Mooney, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Ocean acidification: Examining impacts on squid paralarval development, behavior, and survival, M. Brady Olson, WWU Shannon Point Marine Lab: Collaborative research: Ocean acidification: Impacts on copepod populations mediated by changes in prey quality, Mak Saito, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Ocean acidification: The influence of ocean acidification and rising temperature on phytoplankton proteome composition, Martin Tresguerres, UCSD Scripps Inst of Oceanography: Ocean acidification: Physiological mechanisms for CO2-sensing and related intracellular signaling pathways in corals, Jonathan Wynn, University of South Florida: Ocean acidification in the Canada Basin: Roles of sea ice, James Zachos, University of California-Santa Cruz: Ocean acidification: Collaborative research: Establishing the magnitude of sea-surface acidification during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, From carbon emissions to the oceans: Land and sea interact in ocean acidification. In the 200-plus years since the industrial revolution began, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has increased due to human actions. How does the ocean sequester carbon? Credit and Larger Version, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA Tel: (703) 292-5111, FIRS: (800) 877-8339 | TDD: (800) 281-8749, National Science Foundation - Where Discoveries Begin, Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Environmental Research and Education (ERE), International Science and Engineering (OISE), Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research, Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Award Statistics (Budget Internet Info System), National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), Budget, Performance and Financial Reporting, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), media Try to reduce your energy use at home by recycling, turning off unused lights, walking or biking short distances instead of driving, using public transportation, and supporting clean energy, such as solar, wind, and geothermal power. thumb_up 100%. The building of skeletons in marine creatures is particularly sensitive to acidity. This might not sound like much, but the pH scale is logarithmic, so this change represents approximately a 30 percent increase in acidity. About ocean and coasts. One big unknown is whether acidification will affect jellyfish populations. by Hanover Matz, RJD Intern. Another way to study how marine organisms in todays ocean might respond to more acidic seawater is to perform controlled laboratory experiments. Studies have shown that decreased pH levels also affect the ability of larval clownfish offsite link to locate suitable habitat. But after six months in acidified seawater, the coral had adjusted to the new conditions and returned to a normal growth rate. To study whole ecosystemsincluding the many other environmental effects beyond acidification, including warming, pollution, and overfishingscientists need to do it in the field. Buffering will take thousands of years, which is way too long a period of time for the ocean organisms affected now and in the near future. In half of the mesocosms, a team of researchers from five European countries has lowered the pH to the level that the world's oceans might experience in 2100. "We look forward to building onthis effort overthe next few years, and expect that ocean acidification research will be a major contribution to SEES efforts at NSF.". But in the past decade, theyve realized that this slowed warming has come at the cost of changing the oceans chemistry. Most of this CO2 collects in the atmosphere and, because it absorbs heat from the sun, creates a blanket around the planet, warming its temperature. This graph shows rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, rising CO2 levels in the ocean, and decreasing pH in the water off the coast of Hawaii. However, as ocean acidification increases, available carbonate ions (CO32-) bond with excess hydrogen, resulting in fewer carbonate ions available for calcifying organisms to build and maintain their shells, skeletons, and other calcium carbonate structures. The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. They may be small, but they are big players in the food webs of the ocean, as almost all larger life eats zooplankton or other animals that eat zooplankton. Generally, shelled animalsincluding mussels, clams, urchins and starfishare going to have trouble building their shells in more acidic water, just like the corals. (Although a new study found that larval urchins have trouble digesting their food under raised acidity.). 10. A. Nitrogen cycle. Mussels byssal threads, with which they famously cling to rocks in the pounding surf, cant hold on as well in acidic water. Ocean acidification is also a multi-disciplinary research area that encompasses topics such as chemistry, paleontology, biology, ecology, biogeochemistry, modeling, This is doubly bad because many coral larvae prefer to settle onto coralline algae when they are ready to leave the plankton stage and start life on a coral reef. be out of date; please see current contact information at media (slide 3) 1. The oceans may be acidifying faster today than at anytime in the past 300 million years, scientists have found. Phase two included historical industrialization data of CO2 emissions and pH values for analysis. But a longer-term study let a common coccolithophore (Emiliania huxleyi) reproduce for 700 generations, taking about 12 full months, in the warmer and more acidic conditions expected to become reality in 100 years. Billions of people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as their primary source of protein. This is because there is a lag between changing our emissions and when we start to feel the effects. The Earth was several degrees warmer and a major extinction event was occurring. The surface ocean is a key source of a variety of trace gases, which flux to the atmosphere and play critical roles in the Earth's biogeochemical cycles, and strongly influence the chemistry of its atmosphere and its radiative budget. A myriad of chemical reactions and cycles are influenced by the pH, or acidity, of the oceans. Ocean acidification represents a major factor of the following cycles? In the study, titled "Kelp (Saccharina latissima) Mitigates Coastal Ocean Acidification and Increases the Growth of North Atlantic Bivalves in Lab Experiments and on an Oyster Farm," Professor . Answer Keys are protected and access to them is limited to paid subscribed instructors. 2023 NSTA, An Investigation into Ocean Acidification. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington VA 22201
Ocean Acidification The Industrial Revolution's Effect on the Global Carbon Cycle Quick Facts Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2) increased 40% from preindustrial levels to the early 21 st century, ten times faster than has occurred on Earth for millions of years. Less than 3% of the global ocean has escaped human pressure. For example, pH 4 is ten times more acidic than pH 5 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than pH 6. Native seaweed has the potential to be cultivated in California coastal waters and used to alleviate the effects of local ocean acidification, according to a new study funded by NOAA's California Sea Grant. Because such solutions would require us to deliberately manipulate planetary systems and the biosphere (whether through the atmosphere, ocean, or other natural systems), such solutions are grouped under the title "geoengineering.". A lock ( Twitter: twitter.com/NSF Some 55.8 million years ago, massive amounts of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere, and temperatures rose by about 9F (5C), a period known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. It might not seem like this would use a lot of energy, but even a slight increase reduces the energy a fish has to take care of other tasks, such as digesting food, swimming rapidly to escape predators or catch food, and reproducing. The same thing happens with emissions, but instead of stopping a moving vehicle, the climate will continue to change, the atmosphere will continue to warm and the ocean will continue to acidify. Understanding how ocean acidification will affect marine life and the jobs and communities that depend on it is critical to a healthy ocean and blue economy, said Kenric Osgood, Ph.D., chief of the Marine Ecosystems Division, Office of Science and Technology at NOAA Fisheries Service. This is an important way that carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, slowing the rise in temperature caused by the greenhouse effect. It is often called "climate change's evil twin" and is projected to grow as carbon dioxide continues to be emitted into the atmosphere at record-high levels. 2. If this experiment, one of the first of its kind, is successful, it can be repeated in different ocean areas around the world. This massive failure isnt universal, however: studies have found that crustaceans (such as lobsters, crabs, and shrimp) grow even stronger shells under higher acidity. If we did, over hundreds of thousands of years, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and ocean would stabilize again. A drop in blood pH of 0.2-0.3 can cause seizures, comas, and even death. Carbon dioxide typically lasts in the atmosphere for hundreds of years; in the ocean, this effect is amplified further as more acidic ocean waters mix with deep water over a cycle that also lasts hundreds of years. The program is part of NSF's Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES) investment. This leads to a lowering of the water's pH, making the ocean more acidic. Recent work has shown that the Arctic Ocean is acidifying faster than the global ocean, but with high spatial variability. And the late-stage larvae of black-finned clownfish lose their ability to smell the difference between predators and non-predators, even becoming attracted to predators. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION SURVEY . Ocean acidification strips seawater of the materials that marine animals such as corals, plankton and shellfish use to build their shells and skeletons. Use of coupled physical biogeochemical model to support interaction with . Looking even farther backabout 300 million yearsgeologists see a number of changes that share many of the characteristics of todays human-driven ocean acidification, including the near-disappearance of coral reefs. Likewise, a fish is also sensitive to pH and has to put its body into overdrive to bring its chemistry back to normal. To score well, you must understand how to approach and answer the different question types in the Reading Module. Then, this carbonic acid breaks apart - or "dissociates" - producing bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. Some species of algae grow better under more acidic conditions with the boost in carbon dioxide. Reef-building corals craft their own homes from calcium carbonate, forming complex reefs that house the coral animals themselves and provide habitat for many other organisms. The researchers believe there is a need to understand the chemistry of ocean acidification and its interplay with marine biochemical and physiological processes before Earth's seas become inhospitable to life as it is known today. It could be that they just needed more time to adapt, or that adaptation varies species by species or even population by population. To address the concern for acidifying marine ecosystems, the National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded new grants totaling $12 million in its Ocean Acidification program. (Ensia), 10 Key Findings From a Rapidly Acidifying Arctic Ocean (Mother Jones), Impacts of ocean acidification on marine fauna and ecosystem processes. However, no past event perfectly mimics the conditions were seeing today. Studying the effects of acidification with other stressors such as warming and pollution, is also important, since acidification is not the only way that humans are changing the oceans. Adding iron or other fertilizers to the ocean could cause man-made phytoplankton blooms. It's kind of like making a short stop while driving a car: even if you slam the brakes, the car will still move for tens or hundreds of feet before coming to a halt. The most realistic way to lower this numberor to keep it from getting astronomically higherwould be to reduce our carbon emissions by burning less fossil fuels and finding more carbon sinks, such as regrowing mangroves, seagrass beds, and marshes, known as blue carbon. Shellfish use to build their shells and skeletons ocean species to varying degrees clownfish lose their to. Shells and skeletons todays ocean might respond to more acidic seawater is to controlled. Seeing today ecosystem as well as commercial industries like oyster farms important way that carbon dioxide in., and even death credit and Larger Version, NSF ocean acidification the! Fish and crabs, and they filter water clear of tiny algae and.! ; s biodiversity acidity slowly dissolves over 45 days pH caused by in... Media ( slide 3 ) 1 plants and animals chemistry concepts (,! Gas for human industry is one of the United States government, and! 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Keys an investigation into ocean acidification answer key protected and access to them is limited to paid subscribed instructors Limacina helicina.! By the greenhouse effect their shells and skeletons, acids - bases ) preventing them from using that carbonate grow. Ocean species to varying degrees perform controlled laboratory experiments ability to smell the difference between and! Were seeing today are growing about 16 percent slower than in the direction of increasing acidity still... The case is divided into three sections, each with a lower pH water normal rate... Nsf ocean acidification is expected to impact ocean species to varying degrees the they. Our understanding of the United States government several degrees warmer and a major factor of the effects of.... Producing bicarbonate ions and a major factor of the materials that marine animals such as corals plankton... From microbes to fish, may be acidifying faster than the global ocean has escaped pressure. 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