Question

Write 3 paragraphs (5-7 sentences) describe:

1.What Ocean Acidification is and what causes it

2. What are the affects of acidification to the ocean environment and marine life.

3. What does NOAA stand for and what do they do?

Answer 1

1) Ocean acidification is the state at which the pH value of the ocean water gets lowered causing it to be acidic in nature. This is mainly due to the increase in the CO₂ level in the atmosphere and subsequently in the ocean water. Approximately 30% of the atmospheric CO₂ gets absorbed on the ocean water. Then, such Carbon dioxide reacts with the oceanic water and other water-soluble chemicals to make more H⁺ ions. Ultimately, these hydrogen ions are responsible for lowering the pH value. And, lower the pH value more acidic will be the ocean water.

2) The effects of acidification are very harmful to oceanic/marine organisms. Acidification causes a high CO₂ amount and less dissolved Oxygen amount in the oceanic environment. Also, due to acidification the skeleton and shells of marine organisms weaken quickly. The decrease in calcium carbonate in the ocean has an adverse effect on the growth of the oysters, corals, seashells, etc. Also, the reproductive ability and sensing ability of many fishes gets lowered due to ocean acidification. Every year coral bleaching occurs due to ocean acidification.

3) NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is a scientific agency run by the US Department of Commerce. Their main goal is to enrich life through science. They do scientific observations from the surface of the sun to the deep ocean. And, aware people, government regarding the changing environment due to natural and man-made activities in the past, in the current and in the near future.