Earth’s Oceans Enter Danger Zone Due to Rising Acidification, New Study Warns

Scientists stated that the Earth’s oceans are in poorer condition than previously believed. This is due to heightened acidity levels that caused the sea to enter the danger zone five years ago. According to the recent research, oceans have become more acidic due to the release of carbon dioxide from industrial processes like burning fossil fuels. The acidification of the seas harms marine organisms and the ecosystem, subsequently endangering the coastal human populations that rely on healthy waters for their survival.

In the research, scientists discovered that acidification is much more advanced than previously thought in earlier years. Our oceans may have reached a critical state in the year 2020. Earlier studies indicated that Earth’s oceans were nearing a critical threshold for ocean acidification.

Ocean acidification results from the ocean absorbing excess CO2, which is quickly exacerbating the global crisis. CO2 becomes soluble in seawater, creating carbonic acid, which reduces pH levels and disrupts essential carbonate ions. This endangers aquatic species, like corals and shellfish, that rely on calcium carbonate for constructing their shells and skeletons.

Recent studies indicate that the levels of ocean acidification might have surpassed expectations, exceeding the earlier prediction of a 19% decrease in aragonite from earlier industrial levels. Researchers are concerned that this shift might jeopardize the ecosystems of oceanic regions and, subsequently, the economies of coastal areas.

The latest discoveries indicate that researchers have been concerned historically. Ocean acidification has attained critical levels, surpassing the threshold required for a healthy and stable ecosystem. As essential habitats decline, the cascading consequences are likely to negatively affect biodiversity and influence food security for numerous individuals reliant on the oceans for their sustenance.