Ocean Acidification

While our reading in class claims that carbon dioxide (CO2) may be a better solvent for the environment than volatile organic compounds (such as benzene, toulene, and chloroform) or halogenated organic compounds (such as chlorofluorocarbons an hydrochlorofluorocarbons), it also warns that CO2 is only better for the environment, if the CO2 is caught and prevented from escaping into the atmosphere. The article warns that if CO2 escapes into the atmosphere, it can contribute to global warming.

However CO2 presents another problem, ocean acidification. CO2 contributes to ocean acidification when it dissolves in the water (H2O) and produces carbonic acid (H2CO3). Since the 1980's, the overall pH of the world's oceans have dropped from 8.16 to 8.05. This presents serious problems for many marine animal species, from corals to fish. For many coral and shell species, the ocean acidication poses serious problems for calcification, the process by which calcium hardens into tissues, such as shell. The ocean acidifcation is also posing many problems in animal signaling, hampering reproduction and communication.

On January 30, 2009, more than 150 marine scientists from 26 countries implored legislators around the world to impose more stringent laws on CO2 emissions to slow down the already rapidly accelerating rate of ocean acidification. This warning is being called the Monaco Declaration. Perhaps if much CO2 emission could be "recovered, purified, and reused," as stated in our class article, it could also help slow down ocean acidification.

Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090201124553.htm