Ocean acidification and the marine carbon cycle

The oceans are vast, covering 71% of our planet, and are considered the common heritage of mankind. All living organisms rely upon the oceans to provide the fundamental ecosystem services that support life on earth. Human beings are connected to and benefit from oceanic systems using them as a means of transport, source of food, energy production, spiritual fulfilment, aesthetic enjoyment and space for coastal development. Climate change is an existential threat to the health of ocean systems, biodiversity and human communities that rely on marine ecosystem services. Ocean acidification has drastic consequences for marine species and ecosystems and, in turn, undermines and erodes number of services vital for human development. The international regime for protecting the oceans is advancing its scientific understanding of ocean acidification and developing responses for States to collectively manage impacts and build resilience. The Convention on Biological Diversity has been active platform for the sharing of information on ocean acidification and coordinating mechanism for action.

Ocean Acidification

10.4324/9781315624921-6

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Citations (2)

Review on the Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Nearshore Marine Life

Journal of Dalian University (2013)

Chang Ya-qing

Ocean acidification after ‘Warm House’ is another global environmental problem caused by increasing emissions of anthropogenic carbon dioxide(CO2).Ongoing ocean acidification increasingly affects marine ecosystems and commercial fisheries by changing seawater pH and CaCO3 saturation.On one hand,ocean acidification as an environmental stressor could destroy internal acid-base homeostasis of marine life.On the other hand,the decrease of seawater pH and CaCO3 saturation caused by ocean acidification would affect the formation of carbonate shell and the process of biomineralization of marine life because of the change of dynamic balance of ocean CO2-carbonate system.Nearshore zone is the juncture belt of atmosphere,lithosphere and biosphere characterized by complex environment and abundant fishery resources;it is also an important place for artificial breeding of commercial marine species.In this paper,we reviewed the impacts of ocean acidification on nearshore fisheries mainly from the studies on both ocean acidification as an environmental stressor and its effects on marine life biomineralization.

Ocean Acidification

Marine ecosystem

Ocean chemistry

Marine life

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Mixed Layer Controls on Ocean Carbon Cycling and Ocean Acidification

Japan Geoscience Union (2016)

Christopher L. Sabine Andrea J. Fassbender Adrienne J. Sutton Meghan F. Cronin

Ocean Acidification

Cycling