Ocean chemistry
This molecule, which gets absorbed by the ocean, causes ocean acidification
What is CO2
something that happens to coral reefs because of ocean acidification
What is coral bleaching
What is the leading cause of CO2 emissions
What is burning focal fuels
This U.S. agency monitors acidification, works on reducing both CO₂ and nutrient pollution, and coordinates with partners on research
What is the EPA?
These sea forests are very affected by the ocean acidification
What are coral reefs
This is how much time it takes for CO2 to dissolve into the water
What is 4 months
something that happens to oysters and clams because of ocean acidification
What are the weaker shells
Cutting down forests causes more CO2 to go into the atmosphere
What is Deforsetization
This method adds alkaline materials like crushed olivine or limestone to seawater to increase buffering capacity.
What is ocean alkalinity enhancement?
This percentage of human‑emitted CO₂ has been absorbed by the ocean, contributing significantly to acidification.
What is 30%
Hydrogen ions cause this in the ocean
What is the pH level rising
an effect on humans of the ocean acidification that causes worry about food
What is the lack of food security
This industry, which uses limestone in manufacturing, emits significant CO₂ during its production process.
What is cement production?
This type of “blue carbon” ecosystem—such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes—absorbs CO₂ and helps stabilize coastal pH.
What are coastal carbon-sequestering ecosystems?
This logarithmic scale measures the acidity of seawater, and a drop of just 0.1 units means about a 25–30% increase in acidity.
What is the pH scale?
This is the type of acid that is made when CO2 reacts with seawater
What is carbonic acid
The connection of animals has a direct impact on large animals
What is the food web
According to the EPA, this form of pollution — including nitrogen and phosphorus — fuels coastal algal blooms that increase acidity when the algae die.
What is nutrient pollution
One innovative approach involves directly capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere or industrial emissions and storing it underground or in stable forms.
What is carbon capture and storage (CCS)?
This tiny marine snail, often called the “sea butterfly,” is very vulnerable to acidification because its thin shell can dissolve in more acidic water.
What are pteropods?
This is made when hydrogen ions react with seawater
What are bicarbonate ions
something that can be caused by ocean acidification, which causes young fish to be unable to detect predators
What is sensory impairment
This natural process brings deep, CO₂-rich waters up to the surface, which can increase acidity in coastal regions.
What is upwelling?
This company spreads finely ground olivine sand on beaches so that wave action dissolves it, raising alkalinity and reducing acidity.
What is Project Vesta?
This is how many tons of CO2 are in the ocean
(Hint: it is in the trillions)
38 trillion tons