Question

how oceans are being acidified and why we should care ?

Answer 1

large amount of carbon dioxides enters into the atmospher because of human activity like burning of coal, consumption of petrol etc because of these actitivities Ocean acidification increases it is due to decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. An estimated 30–40% of the carbon dioxide from human activity released into the atmosphere dissolves into oceans, rivers and lakes.

oceans are very good sinks for CO2 gas . when CO2 dissolves in this ocean , carbonic acid is formed . this leads to higher acidity , mainly near the surface . this has been proven to inhibit shell growth marine animals and a cause of reproductive disorder in some fish.

CO2 + H2O <--------------> H2CO3 <---------------> H+ + HCO3-

H+ ion concentration increases due to CO2 in ocean , so its pH decreases and acidity increases.

Increasing acidity leads to harmful consequences, such as depressing metabolic rates and immune responses in some organisms, and causing coral bleaching. This also causes decreasing oxygen levels as it kills off algae. in the baiocycle if these aquatic plants and aquatic animals metabolism effects automatically that effects the human metabolism so definately we should care about this.