What Is Ocean Acidification?

Cycle 3 (9/12 years), Middle School (12/15 years)
Science and life of the Earth, English, Sustainable Development Education

Ocean conservation is essential but sometimes difficult to understand. Pew joined forces with cartoonist Jim Toomey, the artist behind “Sherman’s Lagoon,” on animated videos that explain the complicated concepts that guide efforts to protect our oceans.

This video (2016) presents resasons of acidification and the way it’s affecting ocean and animals,

 

© Pew Charitable Trusts  

 

There’s a chemical change under way in our oceans. It's called ocean acidification. As the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it's becoming more acidic—eroding the shells of marine life like oysters, clams, and urchins, which are vital to the food web.

Scientists predict that ocean acidification could wipe out most coral reefs by the middle of this century, and it’s affecting other animals, too. The good news is that, if we reverse course, the ocean should regain its chemical balance. If not, well, the truth will be a lot scarier than fiction.

Nationally syndicated cartoonist Jim Toomey, creator of Sherman's Lagoon, has joined forces with The Pew Charitable Trusts to illustrate "ocean acidification" and other terms associated with our oceans.

Courtesy of Pew Charitable Trusts