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What is global warming doing to the ocean floor?

1,699 views · Published 15 November 2018 · 2:30 · Indexed 26 September 2026

Channel: Down To Earth · 2018 · Science & Technology

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A new study done by researchers at Montreal-based Mcgill University has found that acidification is also rapidly dissolving the ocean floor.

Scientists are sounding the alarm on oceans . As humans continue to pump more and more CO2 into the atmosphere,
its impact is now being felt in the seas and the oceans.
Since the oceans absorb a large part of this man-made CO2, its waters are becoming acidic. So far, almost all the studies on this acidification were conducted near or on the ocean surface. 
But a new study done by researchers at Montreal-based Mcgill University has found that acidification is also rapidly dissolving the ocean floor. The sediments on the ocean floor contain calcium carbonate or calcite made with dead planktons, corals and other sea creatures. This calcite, which is chalky in colour, is slowly turning into a murky shade of brown. 

CO2 concentration around ocean beds is increasing and this is leading to more acidification, which is causing destruction of calcite sediments. Now, one may ask why are these calcite sediments so important? As the lead author of this study, Olivier Sulpis puts it:  “The calcite at the bottom of the ocean is like a big anti-acid pill.” (https://www.popsci.com/seafloor-disappearing-acidification). With CO2 levels penetrating deep, the oceans’ safety mechanisms are taking a hit. Sulpis and his team studied hotspots in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

They also created a set of seafloor-like microenvironments in the laboratory.
Why is this dangerous?
A more acidic ocean means less marine creatures like mussels, clams, coral, and oysters.
These creatures depend on carbonate in the water to build their shells and skeletons.

But when oceans’ acid levels go up, carbonate levels go down threatening the survival of these animals.  Their decline will have a ripple effect on species higher in the food chain like fish, birds and marine mammals.
Ocean acidification will also lead to bleaching of coral reefs affecting fish biodiversity. Which in turn will have an effect on humans as fewer fish will be caught by fishermen.

Oceans are now 25% more acidic than they were 300 million years ago. And if CO2 emissions keep increasing at the current rate, by the turn of this century it could be as high as 150%

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