🌊 Ocean Acidification Simulator
Watch CO2 dissolve into seawater, shift carbonate chemistry, and threaten marine life in real time
🤔 What Is Ocean Acidification?
The ocean absorbs about 30% of human CO2 emissions, making it Earth's largest carbon sink. When CO2 dissolves in seawater it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which releases hydrogen ions (H+) that lower the pH. Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean pH has dropped from 8.2 to 8.1 — a 26% increase in acidity. This threatens coral reefs, shellfish, and entire marine food chains that depend on calcium carbonate.
Why does this matter? Coral reefs support 25% of all marine species. When pH drops and aragonite saturation falls below 1.0, shell-building organisms can no longer form protective structures — their shells literally dissolve. At current emission rates, ocean pH could reach 7.8 by 2100, a level not seen in 14 million years. This simulator lets you explore the chemistry driving these changes.