Oceans 34% More Acidic Since Pre-Industrial Times, Impacting Marine Life
Oceans have experienced a 34% increase in acidity since pre-industrial times, according to a report by Yale Climate Connections. This shift is affecting the ability of corals to grow and shellfish like oysters and clams to form shells.
Data from the European Environment Agency indicates a global decrease in seawater pH from approximately 8.11 to 8.04 by 2024, which corresponds to a 40% increase in acidity since pre-industrial levels. Similarly, NOAA reports a decline in surface ocean pH by 0.1 units since the Industrial Revolution, translating to about a 30% increase in acidity.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) supports these findings, documenting a typical pH drop from 8.2 to 8.1 since the pre-industrial era, attributed to increased atmospheric COâ‚‚ levels.
This acidification trend poses significant risks to marine ecosystems, particularly affecting calcifying organisms. The reduction in calcium carbonate availability hampers the growth of corals and the formation of shells in oysters and clams, which are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and marine food webs.