What Is Ocean Acidification?

NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory Carbon Group

This static image from NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory Carbon Program offers a visually compelling and scientifically sound image of the sea water carbonate chemistry process that leads to ocean acidification and impedes calcification.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Most relevant in a life science or chemistry class focusing on an often overlooked and enormously important impact of burning fossil fuels. Might best be used as context for a series of basic chemistry experiments understanding buffering, acidity, dissolution, and carbonate reactions.
In the text surrounding the image there is a good overview of the chemistry and consequences of ocean acidification. Image shows a simplified version of a portion of the sea water chemistry that leads to ocean acidification. Passed initial science review. Comments from expert scientist: Accurate, condensed information about ocean acidification and its impacts - both present (observed) and future (predicted).
This site has potentially helpful background on the complex chemical interactions and impacts of CO2 from the atmosphere on the marine ecosystem. Additionally, this site provides links to papers, data, and graphs, which will aid further investigation. Other steps of the chemical process are shown in other graphics that are available on this website.