THE MYTH:
The oceans are allegedly
becoming more acidic,
as a result of all the
carbon dioxide burning
fossil fuels have put
into the atmosphere.
This will allegedly lead
to the extinction of
all marine species, starting
with phytoplankton, at the
bottom of the food chain.
THE TRUTH:
There has been an
intermittent global
warming trend
since the late 1600s,
which had been the
coldest part of the
"Little Age Age" period.
The oceans have been
gradually warming
since then.
A warming ocean
releases dissolved CO2,
just like a warming glass
of soda pop become "flat".
As the oceans warm,
some of the dissolved CO2
will come out of solution
into the atmosphere.
This is a natural cause
of increased CO2
in the atmosphere.
Rather than having
MORE carbon dioxide
in warmer ocean water,
there is LESS.
Carbon dioxide reacts
with water to form
a weak acid (H2CO3),
called carbonic acid.
When CO2 comes out of
a warming ocean,
there's will be LESS
H2CO3 acid in the water.
So, as the
ocean warms,
releasing CO2,
it becomes
LESS acidic.
Neutral liquids have
a pH of 7.0 on the
pH (potential hydrogen)
scale.
An acid has a pH
of lower than 7.0.
A base has a pH
higher than 7.0.
The pH of ocean water
ranges from 7.5 to 8.3.
So, ocean water is basic,
and it's extremely unlikely
that it would become acidic.
The unequal heating of water
by the sun at different latitudes,
means that ocean currents
are constantly circulating.
Colder water sinks,
and warmer water rises
because colder water
is denser than warmer water.
In an uncommon upwelling,
cold water can find its way
to the surface, and the pH
measured in that local area
could become slightly reduced.
If there is some acid runoff
from the land, flowing into
a tidal pool, the Ph in that
local area could become
slightly reduced.
The claim that ocean water
is becoming acidic, is a false
claim used by scaremongers
to frighten the public.
They regularly
claim to measure
tiny pH changes,
that are well under
the margin of error
of the measurements.
And then they claim
that's "scientific proof"
an ocean acidification
crisis is is progres.
Which is based
on their usual
junk science.