What is Acidification?

Acidification is the process of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere getting sucked up by the ocean, ultimately lowering the pH of the water. (PS – pH = a measure of how acidic or basic water is).

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It is actually a pretty basic ( 😉) concept. As more CO2 enters the atmosphere around us, roughly 30% of that CO2 gets absorbed by oceans and lakes, turns into carbonic acid, and makes the water more acidic. This can damage coral reefs, dissolve animals’ shells, and degrade fish skeletons. In some instances, the pH of waterways can drop below the range where most living organisms function. Overall, it is really no pHun.

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Higher ocean acidity levels have become an increasingly prevalent phenomenon in modern times. According to the EPA, by the early 21st century, ocean acidity had increased about 25% from pre-industrial levels, a pace faster than any known in Earth's geologic past.

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Is acidification “good”?

Acidification is a natural process and has been occurring for as long as the earth has been around. But like many things, an excessive amount of it is harmful. When seawater becomes more acidic, carbonate becomes less available for animals to build shells and skeletons, and even causes them to dissolve in some cases. This also applies to coral reefs, which single handedly support more species per unit area than any other marine environment. 

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Additionally, the process by which water becomes acidic is environmentally damaging. Coastal waters are prone to receiving higher amounts of nutrients through agricultural activities, sewage, wastewater treatment, and nitrogen oxide air pollution. This excess of nutrients fosters the perfect environment for algae to rapidly multiply, allowing for harmful algal blooms and the release of CO2 (acidification alert!) as the algae reach the end of their lifespan. 

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What kinds of things are affected by acidification?

A large chunk of aquatic life is affected by acidification. Higher acidity levels jeopardize food webs and ecosystems, as some base-level organisms are unable to tolerate such conditions. The shells of oysters, clams, sea urchins, coral, and calcareous plankton are all difficult to maintain in acidic conditions. In addition, the abilities of some fish to detect predators are hindered.

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Are there certifications I should look out for?

There are no certifications specific to acidification, but you can look out for: 

• Indicators of acidification when visiting certain areas
• Measurement of coastal acidification

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Still want to learn more? Check out some of our favorite references:

EPA on Ocean Acidification

National Ocean Association on Acidification

ScienceDirect: Acidification

Indicators: Acidification

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