NOAA Ocean Acidification

NOAA Ocean Acidification refers to the ongoing decrease in the pH levels of ocean water caused by increased absorption of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. As humans burn fossil fuels, more CO₂ is released, and about a quarter of this CO₂ dissolves into the oceans. This process makes the water more acidic, which can harm marine life, especially organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons like corals, mollusks, and some plankton. Ocean acidification can disrupt marine ecosystems and threaten species that are vital for biodiversity and food security.