Group 6: Scientific Journalism

Concerns about carbon dioxide emissions and the burning of fossil fuels have existed for decades, but only recently has the issue of rapidly increasing ocean acidity emerged. Changes in ocean acidity have implications for biodiversity, which expands beyond just environmental impacts; increasing ocean acidity will affect entire industries and the entire global economic system. 
Rising ocean acidity is caused by long term emissions of carbon dioxide. For example, driving a car or running a factory releases gases into the atmosphere that are toxic to the environment. The development of computer models to help predict environmental trends in the future have been extremely helpful in showing just how devastating the burning of fossil fuels is. For example, one computer model showed what the estimated increase in ocean pH levels would be over the course of 1,000 years, and show a rapid decrease in pH, or a rise in acidity. 

Rising ocean acidity has the potential to severely handicap several prominent industries. Ecotourism is a massive source of national revenue for many countries, but with increasing acidity comes the destruction of the beautiful natural environments that people enjoy, which will affect the entire global economic system.

Anna, Erica, Emely

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