Message #195207

[April Kincaid]

1.
Up to one half of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released by burning fossil fuels over the past 200 years has been absorbed by the world's oceans

2.
Absorbed CO2 in seawater (H2O) forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), lowering the water's pH level and making it more acidic

3.
This raises the hydrogen ion concentration in the water, and limits organisms' access to carbonate ions, which are needed to form hard parts