The brunt of global warming as seen in form of climate change is getting harsher below the Earth’s mighty oceans. Coral reefs of Pacific are facing survival threat in manners more than one. The rise in temperature above the ocean surface owing to massive CO2 emissions is resulting in a change in the pH levels of water bodies. Primarily basic in nature, oceans are now becoming acidic by the day. The increasing acidity could be disastrous eventually, as it is hindering the formation of Corals which have an intricate calcium carbonate skeleton. Moreover, the results of new research indicate that the glue which holds coral reefs together and tethers it to the ocean floor may not form with the increase in oceanic acidity levels. A higher acidic level means a lower pH-at lower levels of pH the process which results in formation of cementing binder gets substantially affected! The formation of coral is a slow process. The calcium carbonate precipitated out of ocean water forms the binder. This binder rushes through the pores of coral’s skeleton.

�

These results are an outcome of the comparison studies wherein, scientists studied CO2 levels in eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, near the Galapagos Islands (the region is known for its naturally varying oceanic carbon dioxide levels) and compared them with western Pacific’s data. According to researchers, the eastern Pacific is essentially nature’s own laboratory to study the how’s and why’s of coral reef ecosystems. Although the waters of Galapagos are upwelled by the incoming currents of colder water and this may be one of the factors in the cementation difference as noted by the scientists during their studies. But, the findings of this research definitely add up to the devastating effects (as Scientist predict) of rising CO2 levels both above and below the oceans. Thus oceanic acidity affects coral reefs in two ways:1) slows down the coral skeletal formation by hindering carbonate formation and 2) affecting the process of glue-formation which is very important for the survival of coral reefs.At this corrosive rate, ocean acidification should not be ignored by the global community.World leaders are actively addressing� issues� of global warming and climate change but forgetting that the triangle gets completed with the third place getting occupied by ocean acidification!

�

Via: Discovery

�