The ocean has absorbed a significant portion of all human-made carbon dioxide emissions. This benefits human society by moderating the rate of climate change, but also causes unprecedented changes to ocean chemistry. Carbon dioxide taken up by the ocean decreases the pH of the water and leads to a suite of chemical changes collectively known as ocean acidification. The long-term consequences of ocean acidification are not known, but are expected to result in changes to many ecosystems and the services they provide to society.
This volume reviews the current state of knowledge, explores gaps in our understanding, and identifies several key findings.