Ocean Acidification (the decrease in pH due to the increase in atmospheric CO2) is a major concern for those that study ocean ecosystems because of its potential to alter the fundamental chemistry and biology of the oceans. Specifically the ocean is expected in decrease in pH by ~0.2-0.3 units in the next ~50-100 years because of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations from continued fossil fuel burning. This decrease in pH has the potential to cause major changes to these ecosystems. Recently, students in the Analysis of Ocean Ecosystems class at the Duke Marine Laboratory led a research cruise to determine the spatial variability of pH and other carbon parameters and their influence on other parts of the coastal North Carolina marine ecosystem.
