It is reported that there is an ongoing decrease in the pH value of oc

It is reported that there is an ongoing decrease in the pH value of ocean water because of global warming. It happens due to :

larger uptake of CO₂ by ocean water

lesser uptake of CO₂ by ocean water

larger uptake of atmospheric nitrogen by ocean water

lesser uptake of atmospheric nitrogen by ocean water

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct answer is A. The decrease in ocean pH (ocean acidification) is primarily caused by the ocean absorbing increasing amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is linked to global warming.

Global warming is largely caused by increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, particularly CO₂, resulting from human activities. The ocean acts as a significant sink for atmospheric CO₂, absorbing about a quarter of the anthropogenic emissions. When CO₂ dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃). Carbonic acid then dissociates, releasing hydrogen ions (H⁺), which lowers the pH of the water, making it more acidic. Increased CO₂ in the atmosphere due to factors causing global warming leads to increased CO₂ uptake by the ocean, driving this acidification process.

Ocean acidification has significant impacts on marine ecosystems, particularly on organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as corals, shellfish, and plankton. Lower pH makes it harder for these organisms to build and maintain their structures. Atmospheric nitrogen uptake does occur in the ocean (nitrogen fixation), but it does not directly cause large-scale ocean acidification; it is related to nutrient cycles and marine productivity.

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