` The movie outlines the causes of ocean acidification as simple and easy to remedy in the following outline. Ocean acidification occurs because of burning fossil fuels in the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide released from these fuels is dissolved in the ocean water forming carbonic acid. The beginning of the industrial revolution saw an increase in industries burning fossil fuels and subsequently led to an increase of carbon dioxide released into the air. The process involved in the acidification of the ocean is a chemical one where, as carbon dioxide is dissolved in the ocean water, it reacts with the water to form carbonic acid. The acid releases a bicarbonate ion and a hydrogen ion, where the hydrogen ion bonds with free carbonate ions in the water forming another bicarbonate ion. The previously free but now used up carbonate ion is not available for use by marine animals in the making of shells and skeletons.
Effect on marine life
The increase in ocean acidity causes a reduction of carbonate in the ocean water a substance that is invaluable to a myriad of ocean creatures in their formation of shells and skeletal tissue. The reduction also caused reduced rates of growth in all species of marine life under study. An increase in ocean acidity causes the dissolution of shells in organisms, which may cause extinction of such organisms if the increased acidification of the ocean remains unchecked. Additionally, the increased acidity in the oceans increases the dissolution of the coral reefs at a faster rate than they can grow back. The hydrogen ions in the water dissolve the calcium carbonate that forms the coral reefs where calcium and carbonate ions are released in the water; where the carbonate ion reacts with hydrogen ions. This process depletes the coral reefs where marine life such as turtles.
Effect of ocean acidification on my personal well-being
The increased acidity in the ocean causes harm to fishes and other food organisms in the ocean. This effect will; cause a reduction in the food variety available for consumption in the market. Seafood is a major delicacy in main menus around the world and increased sea acidity threatens to curtail this choice to me and many other people around the world. a case in point is the possible adverse effect posed on Alaska’s pink salmon is glaring. The fish feed on tiny marine snails that are particularly sensitive to acidity rises. The reduction of the snails has a ripple effect upwards thus reducing the number of fish delicacies available for our consumption.
