What is one effect of lower pH in the ocean?

Lower pH in the ocean, a consequence of increased carbon dioxide absorption, leads to increased acidity. This acidic environment impacts marine organisms, particularly those that rely on calcium carbonate to form their shells and skeletons, such as corals, mollusks, and some planktonic organisms. In conditions of lower pH, the availability of carbonate ions, which are essential for calcification, decreases. This reduction in carbonate ions makes it more difficult for these organisms to produce their calcium carbonate structures, leading to a decreased rate of calcification.

This process is significant because calcification is essential for the growth and maintenance of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. As calcification rates decline, the structural integrity and biodiversity of these ecosystems can be threatened, potentially leading to broader ecological consequences. Therefore, the relationship between ocean acidity and calcification is a critical aspect of marine biology and ecology, highlighting the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on ocean chemistry and marine life.