Ocean Acidification Issues
Earth's oceans have maintained a relatively stable acidity level. But research shows that this ancient balance is being undone by recent and rapid drop in surface pH that could have devastating global consequences[15]. Industrial revolution 1800’s brought fossil fuels, but the issue with that is the emissions of billions of tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into Earths atmosphere.
Like climate change, ocean acidification is a global problem that results from the enormous increase of carbon dioxide, or CO2, released into the atmosphere, primarily from burning fossil fuels. Although ocean acidification and global warming stem from the same source, they are different problems, acidification is a matter of simple chemical reactions that have been understood for more than 100 years[17]. Excess CO2 in the air dissolves in seawater and forms carbonic acid and, through a series of other reactions, reduces the amount of carbonate in seawater.
"Ocean acidification is more rapid than ever in the history of the earth and if you look at the pCO2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide) levels we have reached now, you have to go back 35 million years in time to find the equivalents"[16]