Abstract
The prime focus of the essay is to look at different geoengineering approaches that can help address ocean acidification and counter the negative impacts of ocean acidification. During the past two decades, because of the anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, the pH of the world’s oceans is going down. This is leading to changes in the ecosystems and marine biodiversity, and there are growing concerns among the scientific and research community because of this, as the economic impacts could be substantial.
Introduction
The ocean acidification is projected to have negative consequences for the marine life and ecosystems, as well as impact the role of the oceans' currents. The problem of ocean acidification is considered to be the other problem because of CO2 and how it can influence the chemistry of the ocean. Ever since the start of the Industrial Revolution, about 30% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide that has been absorbed by the oceans. This absorption carries a direct impact on the ocean and its pH values (Logan, 2010).
The rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as well as the ocean, is an increasing concern for the scientists. It leads to ocean acidification where the seawater with more of CO2 dissolving in it, becomes less alkaline. It leads to the hydrogen ion concentration that can lead to a death of planktonic organisms, corals, mollusks and will also abrupt marine food webs. In the long run, the consequences of ocean acidification could be damaging, as the rising hydrogen ion concentration could damage marine ecosystems and disturb physiological processes of the marine life.
There are certain species, such as seagrasses that thrive in increase acidified levels of waters while another struggle to adapt. Any resulting losses lead to a lower biodiversity and are a mark of poorer ecosystem health (IGBP, IOC, SCOR, 2013). As the temperature rises, the CO2 becomes less soluble. Thus, ocean waters in the tropics have a higher capacity for dissolving CO2 as compared to the poles. Deep oceanic water is deepened in CO2 because of respiratory procedures in the absence of CO2.
Natural mechanisms to limit CO2
As the ocean becomes less alkaline, the CO2 dissolved will be less. Moreover, less CO2 dissolves in warmer seawater. There are speculations about the equilibrium level of oceans regarding their absorption of CO2, even if the atmospheric CO2 levels continue to rise. Scientists foresee that even if the atmospheric CO2 goes on rising, the oceans are not possibly going to reach pH values that are lower than 7. Following artificial means to reduce ocean acidification is unproven. However, there are different proposals such as stimulating planktonic algae growth by using iron compounds as the increased photosynthesis will help to remove dissolved CO2. Another approach is to use limestone to neutralize the lower-pH streams and rivers where they enter oceans. One can add limestone powder directly to the deeper oceans by adding limestone powder. However, these efforts mean joint and massive global action to see the results that are desired. These effects can be seen to be best effective on a very local scale (Lipton & Folger, 2013).
At present, removing CO2 from the atmosphere and its emissions seem to be the only practical ways to lower CO2 absorption by seas and minimize the risk of long-term changes to the pH of marine life. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the first federal agency to focus attention to ocean acidification and is involved in research related to ocean acidification. A comprehensive national study looks at how those CO2 absorbed into the oceans are changing the marine life, the coral reefs, and the negative impacts.
Efforts by U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change
As of today, there are no international bodies that address ocean acidification as a stand-alone concern. However, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (“UNFCCC”) and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) discuss the distinct advantages and disadvantages regarding ocean acidification. UNFCCC deals with emissions of CO2 and UNCLOS offers a feasible alternative to the challenges present in the form of a comprehensive framework. These international instruments work towards protecting and preserving the marine environment, and follow the right measures to reduce and control pollution in the marine environment. These parties take action to control ocean acidification as they are well aware of the serious threats to the marine environment. UNCLOS can be seen as an umbrella agreement that covers international rules and regulations under it. International organizations and diplomatic conferences can support the framework for marine pollution control with the help of specific regulatory instruments. Internationally agreed regulations need to be taken into consideration to address the issue of ocean acidification (González, 2012).
Controlling CO2 emissions Lowering the CO2 emissions is the only way to minimize long-term and the large-scale risks of the damage to the marine life due to ocean acidification. As the main cause of ocean acidification is due to the atmospheric CO2 release because of human activities, the realistic solution would be to limit atmospheric CO2 levels in the future. Restoration of wetlands, reforestation and the right management of land use and land-use can bring positive changes. Any of those geoengineering proposals that do not work on lowering atmospheric CO2 are not going to prevent ocean acidification. Economically feasible solutions on a very small scale in coastal regions are relatively unknown.
The restrictions on CO2 levels rise can control other stressors on ocean ecosystems such as deoxygenation and rise in temperatures. The shellfish aquaculture industry can benefit a lot because of the mitigation and adaptation strategies. For instance, by monitoring the seawater around shellfish hatcheries can identify the intake of seawater with a lower pH and the managers can relocate the hatcheries (IGBP, IOC, SCOR, 2013).
The impacts of ocean acidification on ecosystem at local levels can be limited by encouraging sustainable fisheries management practices. There is a need to create long-term bycatch reduction plans by reducing overfishing. By curbing sediment loading, encouraging sustainable management of habitats and applying marine spatial planning, one can help manage the marine ecosystem. It is essential to regulate the localized sources of acidification pollutants such as fertilizers.
Conclusion
Even if the cumulative efforts to control marine pollution and CO2 absorption are successful, the lowering of pH of ocean waters will probably go on for decades. Even though, the atmospheric CO2 is made to return to pre-industrial levels, it will probably take thousands of years for the chemistry of the oceans to revert to the similar conditions that were during the pre-industrial. Till date, there are no concrete obligations to regulate CO2 and lower ocean acidification. It will be a challenging to bring together international bodies and make them come around to an agreement to address ocean acidification. Parties to UNCLOS are already committed towards the issues of pollution of the marine environment as the impacts of ocean acidification are indisputable. Some decision makers are looking towards the researchers and scientists to see it is possible to define the thresholds beyond which it will not be possible to recover the ecosystems. After all, it is a complex challenge to study the long term and short term effects of changing physics, chemistry and biology of the oceans that vary with different ecosystems.
References
Logan ,Cheryl A. (2010). A Review of Ocean Acidification and America's Response. BioScience Retrieved from http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/60/10/819.full
Lipton, H.F. & Folger P. (2013). Ocean Acidification Congressional Research Service.1-18.
González, V. (2012). An Alternative Approach for Addressing CO2-Driven Ocean Acidification Sustainable Development Law & Policy 12 (2).1-3.
IGBP, IOC, SCOR (2013). Ocean Acidification Summary for Policymakers – ThirdSymposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World. International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Stockholm, Sweden.
