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Editor in Chief:
Andrew Gorin

The Pacific Times

604241031
Professor Tripati
Intro to Oceanography
The Pacific Times is the oceans
best newspaper, extremely
devoted to documenting issues
that the ocean is facing. For our
inaugural edition, the
publication will focus on ocean
acidification, its effects on the
environment, and possible
solutions to the problem.

What is ocean acidification?

The other co2 Problem
Ocean acidification is a continuous

water to form a hydronium ion and

very small, on a scale of tenths of a pH

decrease of pH in the ocean, which is

bicarbonate, which increases the

unit, but still has a huge effect on the

the result of rising CO2 levels in the

acidity of the ocean and decreases the

ocean. Even one tenth of a decrease in

atmosphere. Around 30-40% of the

pH, due to a greater concentration of

pH means that there is about a 30%

carbon dioxide released into the

H ions. This reaction is represented by

increase, due to the logarithmic nature

atmosphere is then absorbed into the

the following chemical equations

of the pH scale. Ultimately, the rising

ocean, leading to a greater carbon

CO2 + H2O H2CO3

acidity of the ocean will have a

dioxide presence in the ocean. To

H2CO3 + H2O H+ + HCO3-

devastating effect on marine life and

achieve equilibrium, some carbon

The greater concentration of

other aspects of the ocean, which will

dioxide reacts with water, which in

hydronium ions leads to a drop in pH,

be discussed in further articles.

turn creates carbonic acid. Carbonic

and greater acidity. Importantly, this

acid molecules then react with more

change in hydronium concentration is

How do we know about carbon dioxides history in the ocean?

Ice cores provide an insight into how the world was before there were recorded
measurements of levels of carbon dioxide. This method of analyzing levels of CO2 is
possible because of the way ice forms. When water freezes, different gases that are
present in the atmosphere are frozen in small bubbles in the ice. This means that the
deeper the ice core is drilled into, the older the ice and air bubbles trapped in it are.
On the right is a graph that displays the age versus depth relationship at one ice core
drilling site in Greenland. At 1390 meters in depth, the ice is nearly 100,000 years
old, which is gives scientists a window into how the worlds nature at the time. Not
only do ice core levels have these important air bubbles that tell us about (Cont Ice
Cores, p. 2)

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(From Ice Cores, p. 1)

atmospheric composition and
temperature, the cores also have dust
dispersed throughout, which displays the
impact that wind strength and aridity had
on the world at the time. There is also ash
and other particles that were a result of
volcanic eruptions present in the ice,
which gives scientists the opportunity to
document such events. Finally, isotopes of
certain elements found can say a significant
deal about climate change and
precipitation. When ice cores are

The impact of ocean

acidification

extracted, the ice is crushed under a cold

Ocean acidification can have massive

will be far less calcium carbonate,

vacuum, and the gas concentrated in the

effects on marine life, but there is still

which allows numerous marine

chamber is measured through spectroscopy

much research required to verify the

organisms to survive. The above

or gas chromatography.

potential impacts. The primary issue

picture represents the changes that

with acidification lies within the

acidification bring about, with the

chemical formulas that were

before picture on the left and the

mentioned in the first article within

after picture on the right. The reef,

this newspaper. As carbonic acid

which is composed of calcium

(H2CO3) is formed from the

carbonate, responds poorly to the

combination of carbon dioxide and

increased pH and begins to be

water, the acid reacts with water to

dissolved, and is eventually destroyed

create bicarbonate (HCO3 ) and a

due to the waters acidity. Similarly,

This is a picture of an ice core, which has

hydronium ion (H+). With rising

many forms of phytoplankton utilize

numerous different layers. Each layer is

carbon dioxide levels, there will be

calcium carbonate to create their

essential in telling scientists and the

more free hydronium ions, which will

shells, and will die out without this

present world something about our

want to combine with as much

compound. For example, experiments

history. There are multiple sites for

carbonate (CO32-) to achieve chemical

show that when CO2 was increased

drilling, but major ones are found in

equilibrium. However, due to the

from 560 ppmv to 780 ppmv, the

Greenland and Antarctica. Unfortunately,

limited availability, carbonate that

shells of foraminifera declined by up to

ice cores display a drastic increase of CO2

makes up the shells of numerous

14%. Similarly, mussels and oysters at

since the industrial revolution, with

marine animals will be detached from

740 ppmv decreased in calcification by

around 400 parts per million present in the

its molecular bond with calcium, in

25% and 10%, respectively. It

atmosphere.

the form of CaCO3. As a result, there

requires (Cont Impacts, p. 3)

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The pacific times, Volume 1

(From Impacts, p. 2)

pteropods, ultimately impacting both

the salmons and pteropods

a lot of time for these organisms to

populations significantly. It is

generate their cells, and as a result,

projected that CO2 levels in the ocean

they will be unable to do what they

will only continue to rise. As more

need to survive. Moreover, the death

carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere

of calcifying organisms will affect food

due to factories and pollution, the

webs significantly; for example,

ocean will easily absorb carbon

coccolithophores will begin to

dioxide and increase in acidity. By

dwindle, leading to a decrease in the

2099, it is forecasted that close to no

rising CO2 and declining calcification rates

population of copepods that consume

corals will be founded in undisturbed

them, which would in turn affect the

will affect organisms significantly, more

natural environments, and instead will

Pacific salmons diet, as it is a major

be unable to grow due to humans

consumer of copepods. Salmon would

emissions. Ocean acidification,

scientists hypotheses regarding

have to eat other organisms like

ultimately, must be addressed.

acidification. For example, in one study,

The Problem of
uncertainty
Even though there is some evidence that

research is still required to verify

some photosynthetic and life forms

actually responded positively to increasing
carbon dioxide, as it allowed for an
increased rate of photosynthesis. Current
knowledge about ocean acidification stems
from short term experiments that usually
focus on single species and their response

Carbon sequestration a potential solution?

to an extreme pH change. As a result,

One possibility of remedying the rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere that

scientists know very little about the

has been proposed is known as carbon sequestration. This is a process that can

responses of diverse populations, potential

seemingly remove the carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it in a reservoir so
that it does not affect the environment. One such form of sequestration is

adaptations or replacements, and the true

underground sequestration, in which carbon that would normally be emitted from

impact that this would have on global

power plants and factories would be transported via pipeline underground to a

climate change. More experiments must

series of porous rocks that would absorb the CO2. Similarly, carbon in the ocean
could be sent through a pipeline to the deep, bottom water, where it could either

be done in order to establish why and how

become absorbed or actually create a carbon lake at the bottom of the ocean.

rising CO2 levels will affect calcifying

(Cont Sequestration, p. 4)

organisms.

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(From Sequestration, p. 3)
Because carbon dioxide is denser at depths than seawater, this sequestration would be possible,
as it would stay in the place it was injected into. However, while easy to envision, this process
is time consuming and would be challenging to actually put in practice. Additionally, this
could end up having negative effects on marine animals that live at the bottom of the ocean.
Currently, there are many scientists who are conducting experiments and research on how

This illustrates the way carbon

sequestration can be done, and how it will affect the environment. This could be a major

would be sequestered on land.

change that would positively affect the world and its composition.

Sources
Press, Paul. "Carbon Sequestration in the Ocean." Carbon Sequestration
in the Ocean. ScienceBeat, 1 Feb. 2001. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
"Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sequestration." EPA. Environmental
Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
Moyer, Ryan P. "Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Growth."
Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Growth: Historical
Perspectives from Core-Based Studies. USGS, Nov. 2009.