Increasing amounts of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), in the Earth's atmosphere are linked to a change in the pH of the ocean through a process known as ocean acidification. Here's how this process occurs:

The consequences of ocean acidification are significant and have wide-ranging impacts on marine ecosystems:

• Calcifying Organisms: Ocean acidification affects organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as corals, mollusks (e.g., clams and oysters), and some types of plankton. The increased acidity can make it more difficult for these organisms to build and maintain their calcium carbonate structures.
• Food Web Disruption: As calcifying organisms struggle to thrive in more acidic waters, disruptions in the marine food web can occur. This can impact species that rely on these organisms as a food source.
• Marine Biodiversity: Changes in ocean chemistry can also affect the distribution and abundance of various marine species, potentially leading to shifts in marine biodiversity.
• Economic Impacts: Ocean acidification can have economic consequences, particularly for fisheries and aquaculture industries that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.

Addressing ocean acidification requires a reduction in the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It is closely related to efforts to combat climate change, as both issues are driven by the same fundamental cause: the release of excessive CO2 into the atmosphere from human activities. Reducing CO2 emissions through measures such as transitioning to cleaner energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and protecting and restoring forests can help mitigate both climate change and ocean acidification.

Dr Gaurav H Tandon thank you for your contribution to the discussion

First, it forms carbonic acid. Then, this carbonic acid breaks apart – or “dissociates” – producing bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. Ocean acidification results from an increased concentration of hydrogen ions and a reduction in carbonate ions due to the absorption of increased amounts of CO2. Because of human-driven increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, there is more CO2 dissolving into the ocean. The ocean's average pH is now around 8.1, which is basic (or alkaline), but as the ocean continues to absorb more CO2, the pH decreases and the ocean becomes more acidic. Carbon dioxide reacts with sea water to produce carbonic acid. The resulting increase in acidity (measured by lower pH values) changes the balance of minerals in the water. Carbon dioxide can dissolve in water and then reacts with water to form carbonic acid. Since the acid then dissociates into carbonate ions and hydrogen ions and eventually forms H30+ ions, it follows that an increase in CO2 will cause a decrease in pH because the solution is getting more acidic. The ocean's average pH is now around 8.1, which is basic (or alkaline), but as the ocean continues to absorb more CO2, the pH decreases and the ocean becomes more acidic. When CO2 is absorbed by seawater, a series of chemical reactions occur resulting in the increased concentration of hydrogen ions. This increase causes the seawater to become more acidic and causes carbonate ions to be relatively less abundant. When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, most of it becomes bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. This increase in hydrogen ions is what decreases the pH. In addition, some of the hydrogen combines with carbonate to form more bicarbonate, decreasing the concentration of carbonate in seawater. When carbon dioxide dissolves into the ocean, it triggers a chemical reaction that increases acidity over time. More technically: CO2 and water produce carbonic acid, which releases hydrogen and bicarbonate ions. The more hydrogen ions there are, the more acidic the water becomes.