15-04 Acidification - John Bulloch

When oceans become more acidic from carbon dioxide, it impacts the ability of shell fish to build their shells.

Now we are getting a bit “techy”. We are talking about the oceans of the world becoming more acidic because of all the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
With great humour I remember our chemistry professor in second year engineering giving a course on inorganic chemistry using the textbook, “Mellors Inorganic Chemistry”. He loved to start off each lecture with a comment that “There is an error in Mellor”.
Well there is some serious inorganic chemistry taking place in our oceans that absorb about 30% of the CO2 that we produce from burning fossil fuels. Acids are produced in the ocean and the supply of important calcium carbonate minerals are being reduced.
My instincts are to play close attention to things that may be important but are technical. Unfortunately, things that are complex are difficult to explain and do not get critical political attention.
And what is calcium carbonate. Well my wife takes a calcium carbonate pill each day to supplement the calcium her body needs as she ages. And the “Tums” pill I take to reduce acidity from white wine is also calcium carbonate.
In the ocean, shellfish like coral, oysters, clams, mussels, snails, scallops, conch and so on depend on calcium carbonate minerals in the ocean to grow and survive. Their skeletons and shells are built from calcium carbonate.
And, of course, shellfish are a massive industry world-wide. The photo shows a “scalloper” from Massachusetts. One of millions that make their living off the sea.
I hope it does not mean living without oysters. Apparently raising oysters even using aquaculture is being hindered because of the acidic nature of ocean waters on the Pacific coast.
And I have a wonderful memory of conch chowder during a visit to Nassau in the 1980s when my brother lived there. I remember buying conch shells as a souvenir for my kids.
Well the photo shows conch shells that are being damaged by our acidic ocean waters. Apparently shells of shell fish are actualy dissolving in the oceans.
Global warming has been poorly politicized, unfortunately. This means a large portion of the public thinks it is a hoax and just another excuse to either raise taxes or increase the size of government.
But it is more than nasty weather. It is about our food supply.
That’s the way I see it anyways.