期刊名称：Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Economies
出版年度：2011
卷号：13
期号：1
出版社：Loyola University Chicago
摘要：Ocean acidification (OA) refers to changes in ocean chemistry brought about by increase in atmospheric CO2 from combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation and cement production. The ocean is particularly sensitive to these emissions because it currently absorbs about one-fourth of the anthropogenic CO2 that is emitted to the atmosphere. As anthropogenic CO2 is absorbed by the ocean, it produces carbonic acid that reduces the levels of carbonate ion, which is used by many marine organisms to construct shell and skeletal material. These changes in ocean chemistry are expected to adversely affect many marine organisms, including some commercially important species. Scientific research on OA is still in its infancy but most studies show decreasing production of shell and skeletal formation (calcification) with increasing acidification. Acidification-induced alterations in plankton communities may cause disturbances to marine food webs that will affect fisheries (Hilmi&Al, 2009).
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