In recent decades, we have become increasingly aware of changes to our global climate resulting from human-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. It is common knowledge that increasing levels of these gases in the atmosphere are changing earth’s climate, resulting in changes in temperature, sea level, weather patterns, agricultural production, distribution of species, and so on. Rising levels of carbon dioxide, however, also have profound effects on the world’s oceans. The chemistry of the oceans is changing rapidly, with significant consequences for individual species, food webs in the ocean, and humanity’s reliance on these natural resources.

Levison L., 2012. Federal policy and funding relating to ocean acidification, 44 p. Silver Spring: National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Report.