The term “ocean acidity” is the name given to the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, which is caused by the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Ocean organisms and habitats can be adversely affected by changes in ocean chemistry. These changes can result in creation of dead zones, which are becoming more alarming to scientists and increasing ocean acidity, another harmful condition that has direct and indirect impacts on aquatic life.
One of the most prevalent Repercussions relates to the production of shells, plates, skeletons, and coral habitats. It is called calcification and it is imperative to the ecosystem and survival of a wide range of marine organisms.
The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Environmental Protection Agency to force the use of the Clean Water Act to fight this serious problem.
On Thursday, March 11, the Center announced a settlement with the EPA.
“This settlement marks a crucial step toward combating ocean acidification with our nation’s strongest water-quality law, the Clean Water Act,” said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Center. “We already have the legal tools we need to limit ocean acidification, and the Clean Water Act has a history of success reducing pollution.”
Nearly every marine animal studied to date has experienced adverse effects due to acidification.
“Ocean acidification is global warming’s evil twin, and CO2 pollution is one of the biggest threats to our marine environment,” said Sakashita. “We need prompt action to curb CO2 emissions to avoid the worst consequences of acidification.”
The Center reports that under the settlement agreement the EPA will initiate a public process for the EPA to develop guidance on how to approach acidification under the federal Clean Water Act. Specifically, EPA will consider a provision of the Act that requires states to identify threatened or impaired waters and set limits on the input of pollutants into these waters.
Scientists have confirmed widespread ocean acidification due to CO2 pollution.
A survey off the West Coast of the United States showed that waters affected by ocean acidification are already upwelling onto the continental shelf and exposing marine life in surface waters to corrosive conditions.
The Arctic also faces imminent consequences, and areas of the Arctic are expected to become corrosive by 2016.
The EPA has until March 15, to submit a notice soliciting public comment for publication in the Federal Register. This is the opportunity for comments on how to evaluate waters threatened by acidification and address the problem.
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