When talking about the causes of ocean acidification, the first thing that comes to my mind is emissions. One-third of the emissions that are pumped into the atmosphere every day, then bond with the surface water of the ocean and cause harm to the creatures within these waters. Ocean acidification is the act of the pH levels in the ocean decreasing. This is due to the CO2 molecules in the air bonding with the H2O and carbonate molecules found within the water.

Emissions being burnt adds higher pressure levels in the atmosphere and the CO2 mixes with the water faster and more frequently. The bond made by those three compounds is known as carbonic acid, which has weak bonds between the molecules. The compound then splits into two bicarbonate ions which is what makes the ocean less on the alkaline side and more on the acidic side of the pH scale. Gas (CO2) bonds with liquids (H2O) easier and faster when the components are cold, meaning the polar oceans, specifically the Arctic Ocean, is at greatest risk for this process. 

As a 17 year old high school student, who has played sports for years and has a job, I burn lots of unnecessary emissions every day. I have a very busy life, with driving being my primary transportation source. In our society, burning emissions is a huge part of our day to day lives. My name is Aybree Moffatt and I will be discussing the causes of ocean acidification, as well as the effects, and what you can do to help.

Consider your emission output:  In the majority of North America, driving to our destinations is the fastest and most convenient way of transportation. As well as being the warmest/safest method during the colder months of the year. Every morning, since I was 5 years old, I get ready for school, drive there, stay till lunch, drive home, eat lunch, drive back, learn for 2 more hours, drive home, drive to sports, a couple hours later drive home, eat supper, then go to bed. If I'm not driving to school or dance, I'm driving to work. I believe that this schedule will sound quite similar to most of the lives of the people reading this. 

It is common to hear about what these emissions do to the enviroment, but often, we don’t know what/who is affected on our planet, we also don’t know how to make a change when the biggest problem, being emissions, is an essential part of our lives. I'd like to think I’m on the more educated side of climate change and what has been going on in earth's atmosphere, but something I had never heard of before, was what this petition has become. Learning about Acidification of the ocean. 

This information on the issue came from National Ocean Services. They are an organization that provides data, services, and tools to help us improve the health of the enviroment while still being affordable. All of their research is science and experiment based, in hopes to repair the environment in the Arctic for the creatures, as well as the fisheries.

Who is affected? From plankton and coral, to clams and muscles, all the way up the food chain to sea stars, salmon, otters and whales, they are all being affected by this process. Calcium carbonate is being dissolved, making the resource that forms these creatures shells, homes, skeletons, and food- a scarce source. We are already seeing the effects of this process as coral reefs that house fish are collapsing, the shells of oysters dissolve leaving them without protection and the tiny creatures that are a major food source, to animals and humans, are becoming small and weak. 

It all starts with the small creatures then moves up the food chain, eventually hitting human food and job sources. it starts with sea-life, then shifts to the globe. In 2022, the government of Canada released that 60,173 Canadians are employed by the fishing industry. What do you think will happen to those people when the quantities of fish become scarce? 

Be the person who makes a change: After hearing about the effects of ocean acidification, you are probably wondering how you can help to work towards a healthier environment for these creatures to live in. There are many different ways to help reduce your emission output, with many different cost points as well. To cost effectively save the environment you can...

•  Start with properly disposing of your waste
• Shop wisely with eco-friendly brands
•  Reduce pollutants (such as car pooling, limiting unnecessary driving, finding other was of transportation)
• Properly disposing waste
• Stay warm with sweaters rather then turning the heat up in your home 
• Support kelp farmers and ocean aforrestation (growing plants near problematic areas to absorb CO2)
•  Other options are switching to electric vehicles and to sustainable energy sources(solar)!

Sign this petition: By signing the petition, you spread awareness about this issue, as well as educate others on what we, as individuals can do to help save the lives of ocean creatures, mammals, and humans. By doing this we are moving towards a safer, more habitable, healthier environment for life on Earth. This all starts with you.