Emissions of CO2 driving rapid oceanic acidification

The world's oceans are becoming acidic at an "unprecedented rate", more rapidly than at any time in the past 300 million years. In their strongest statement yet on this issue, scientists say acidification could increase by 170% by 2100. They say that some 30% of ocean species are unlikely to survive in these conditions. The researchers conclude that human emissions of CO2 are clearly to blame. The study will be presented at global climate talks in Poland next week.

In 2012, over 500 of the world's leading experts on ocean acidification gathered in California. Led by the International Biosphere-Geosphere Programme, a review of the state of the science has now been published. This Summary for Policymakers states with "very high confidence" that increasing acidification is caused by human activities which are adding 24 million tonnes of CO2 to oceans every day.

Ocean Acidification destroying Antarctic marine life

 
The research took place in the Southern Ocean
 

Marine snails in seas around Antarctica are being

affected by ocean acidification, scientists have found.

An international team of researchers found that the snails' shells are being

corroded.

Experts says the findings are significant for predicting the future impact of

ocean acidification on marine life.

The results of the study are published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

The marine snails, called "pteropods", are an important link in the oceanic

food chain as well as a good indicator of ecosystem health.
 

"They are a major grazer of phytoplankton and... a key

prey item of a number of higher predators - larger plankton, fish, seabirds,

whales," said Dr Geraint Tarling, Head of Ocean Ecosystems at the British

Antarctic Survey (BAS) and co-author of the report.

The study was a combined project involving researchers from the BAS, the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US Woods Hole

Oceanographic Institution and the University of East Anglia's school of

Environmental Sciences.

Ocean acidification is a result of burning fossil fuels: some of the