photo by Jeff Hannigan (source: U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Oceans absorb half of the world’s carbon dioxide. This may have a mitigating effect on climate change, but it also makes the oceans more acidic, which could endanger the Earth’s marine life. As oceanic ph levels change, it is not known how this might affect marine microorganisms, animals that are crucial to the food chain, oxygen production and cloud formation.
Whatever the outcome, it is clear is that the oceans are being altered and that it will have an impact on those who rely on them, human beings for one.
–Al Jazeera
Check out this video report from the Canadian Arctic by Al Jazeera English on ocean acidification in the Arctic:
Pollution endangering Arctic oceans
Also check out reporter Steve Chao’s accompanying blog entitled The ‘evil twin’ of climate change.
by Graham Land
