Ocean acidification

With the acidification of the oceans due to global warming of the planet, a large part of marine biodiversity could be affected.   VIDEOGRAPHIC

Transcript

00:00Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the main reason for the acidification of the world's

00:13oceans. Three quarters of all carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by land areas or remain

00:19in the atmosphere, but around a quarter is captured by the oceans. In the water, the

00:26carbon dioxide turns into carbonic acid, making it more acidic. Today, our oceans are

00:3230% more acidic than during the pre-industrial era. This all serves to accelerate global

00:38warming. Acidity is measured in pH, or power of hydrogen. Above 7 is alkaline, below acidic.

00:46The more an ocean is acidic, the less it is able to capture the carbon dioxide heating

00:51up the planet. And as global warming heats up the water, it can absorb even less. Acidity

00:58also has dire consequences for marine ecosystems. Increased acidity means less calcium carbonate

01:04for sea creatures such as mussels, crabs, or coral, who use it to form their shells

01:09and skeletons. This makes them more fragile and vulnerable to disease. Dissolved carbon

01:17dioxide can also upset plankton, which is the base of marine food chains.