8. Ocean acidification.
One of the problems about research is the source you use.
For example, try Wikipedia.
"...Ocean acidification is the name given to the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by their uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere..."
An automatic assumption of an anthropogenic source.
But from other sources, we can see something else.
http://www.seafriends.org.nz/issues/global/acid.htm
Scientists that simply mention CO2 levels without mentioning the source.
Remember, "anthropogenic carbon dioxide" is another name for "burning of fossil fuels" (the C12/C13 ratio).
So, let’s move this along.
"...Between 1751 and 1994 surface ocean pH is estimated to have decreased from approximately 8.179 to 8.104, a change of −0.075 on the logarithmic pH scale which corresponds to an increase of 18.9% in H+ (acid) concentration. By the first decade of the 21st century however, the net change in ocean pH levels relative pre-industrial level was about -0.11, representing an increase of some 30% in "acidity" (ion concentration) in the world's oceans..." Wiki again.
So let’s examine the pH scale.
From: http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/184ph.html
"...Acidic and basic (alkaline) are two extremes that describe a chemical property. Mixing acids and bases can cancel out or neutralize their extreme effects. A substance that is neither acidic nor basic is neutral.
The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral. A pH less than 7 is acidic. A pH greater than 7 is basic.
The pH scale is logarithmic and as a result, each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value. For example, pH 4 is ten times more acidic than pH 5 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than pH 6. The same holds true for pH values above 7, each of which is ten times more alkaline (another way to say basic) than the next lower whole value. For example, pH 10 is ten times more alkaline than pH 9 and 100 times (10 times 10) more alkaline than pH 8.
Pure water is neutral. But when chemicals are mixed with water, the mixture can become either acidic or basic. Examples of acidic substances are vinegar and lemon juice. Lye, milk of magnesia, and ammonia are examples of basic substances..."
So pure water has a pH of 7. Sea water has a pH level of 8.104. According to the above source, then, sea water is more basic than pure water.
So, using their own statement: "...Note that, although the ocean is acidifying, its pH is still greater than 7 (that of neutral water), so the ocean could also be described as becoming less basic..."
Using the figures from wiki, since the industrial revolution began, it is estimated that surface ocean pH has dropped by slightly more than 0.1 units. In the next 90 years, it’s predicted to drop another 0.245 units.
But will still be less acid than rainwater.
Edit: While I was working on this, the following post appeared:
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/11/01/scientists-plead-for-15-billion-ocean-acidification-monitorin g-system/
15 BILLION DOLLARS. I bought a set of test strips for my pool for about 10 bucks.
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Updated: 12:31 PM GMT on November 02, 2010
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