Ocean acidification

Carbon dioxide given off by vehicles, power plants and other human sources gas combines with seawater to form.
ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH YOUNGGUIST

Ocean acidification, also known as "global warming's evil twin", it is a direct consequence of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, the only difference is that we do not feel or see the impacts as it is happening underwater. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed into the ocean and is converted into carbonic acid which lowers the ocean pH. This has been implicated in having adverse impacts on vertebrates, molluscs, corals and crustaceans (Wittmann and Pörtner, 2013), and it has also been suggest to have future impacts on fisheries (Cooley and Doney, 2009), food security (UNEP, 2010), sustainable development (UN-DESA, 2009). Subsequent blog post will talk about the impacts of ocean acidification on marine life.

References:

Wittmann, A.C. & Pörtner, H. (2013) Sensitivities of extant animal taxa to ocean acidification. Nature Climate Change. [Online] 3 (8). p. 995–1001. Available from: http://www.iaea.org/ocean-acidification/download/9_Data%20Management/DMS%20pres/OA%20database_as_neededHPshort.pdf. [Accessed: 25 September 2014].

Cooley, S.R. & Doney, S.C. (2009) Anticipating ocean acidification's economic consequences for commercial fisheries. Environmental Research Letters. [Online] 4 (2), 024007. Available from: http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/4/2/024007/fulltext/. [Accessed: 26 September 2014].

UNEP. (2010) Environmental Consequences of Ocean Acidification: A Threat to Food Security. UNEP Emerging Issues. United Nations Environment Programme. Nairobi: Kenya. Available from: http://www.unep.org/dewa/Portals/67/pdf/Ocean_Acidification.pdf. [Accessed: 26 September 2014].

UN-DESA. (2009) Ocean Acidification: A Hidden Risk for Sustainable Development. Copenhagen Policy Brief. [Online] 1. p. 1-4. Available from: http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/cop15_policy_brief_1.pdf. [Accessed: 26 September 2014].