Ocean waters off California are becoming more acidic twice as fast as any others in the world, threatening the state’s economically valuable seafood and fishing industries, according to a new study by NOAA researchers.
Ocean acidification – a chemical process in which pH levels decline – occurs when excess carbon monoxide is absorbed by sea water. Acidification happens naturally over time, but scientists say it’s accelerating as carbon dioxide becomes more prevalent in Earth’s atmosphere, mostly from the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is the driving force behind global warming.
Among other effects, ocean acidification reduces the amount of calcium carbonate minerals in the ocean, key building blocks for the skeletons and shells of many marine organisms, including oysters, clams, sea urchins and coral…
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