how our actions
on the mainland
impact the islands
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One of the most significant ways that we humans are impacting the Channel Islands is ocean acidification.
This complex chemical process threatens island residents large and small: from tiny plankton to giant whales.
It begins and ends with the very air that we breathe.
With each inhale we take in oxygen from the atmosphere.
With each exhale, we release carbon dioxide into the air.
Plants do the opposite.
They absorb carbon dioxide,
and release oxygen.
This exchange of CO2 and O2 between organisms and the atmosphere is called the Carbon Cycle. It is a planet-wide process that allows life on Earth to thrive.
But we humans have disrupted this cycle. When we burn oil and gas, we add even more CO2 into the atmosphere.
This has led to significantly more CO2 in our atmosphere than the carbon cycle can handle.
Much of this excess CO2 gets absorbed by the ocean.
Here, it bonds with water to form carbonic acid.
Carbonic acid can have devastating impacts on marine life.
It breaks down the calcium carbonate shells of many ocean creatures.
This includes the tiny but incredibly important pteropods.
These plankton are the core of many ocean food webs.
If their numbers suffer, so will everything from fish to whales.
Acidification threatens the whole system.
Confronting issues like ocean acidification and climate change can be incredibly depressing. It seems hard to know where to start. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do as an individual to better understand and help prevent ocean acidification:
Remember to breathe! Even though this creates CO2, it is important to stay calm and get oxygen into your brain as you think about all of this.
Check out this interactive map that shows how the global ocean is becoming more acidic over time.
Our carbon emissions are one of the largest drivers of acidification. What are ways that you can reduce your own carbon footprint?
