Ocean acid growing at fastest rate for 65m years

Oceans are becoming more acidic at the fastest rate for 65 million years due to increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

A report by the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership said increased acidity, caused by the oceans absorbing CO2, could contribute to climate change and effect marine life.

Over the past 200 years, ocean acidity has risen by 30%, MCCIP said.

The “ecosystem linkages” report also noted that large areas of Arctic sea ice have melted, and that the numbers of some seabird species on the UK coastline have started to decline.

Rising acidity will affect the ability of sea creatures, such as plankton and shellfish, to grow and reproduce, MCCIP warned.

Furthermore, coastal communities will face increased threats including flooding.

MCCIP said that because the world’s seas all link to one another, the impact of climate change on the sea is magnified.

It recommended a ‘bigger picture’ approach to address the marine problems caused by climate change.

This week, the UK government commissioned an £11m study into the affect of rising acidity on Britain’s seas.