Entries in Oceans (1)

Sunday
Apr172011

Ocean Acidification by the Numbers

500
Billions of tons of CO2 emitted through fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and deforestation since the beginning of the industrial revolution.

30
Billions of tons of CO2 currently emitted each year.

800,000
Years since atmospheric CO2 has been as high as today.

30
Percent of CO2 produced by humans over the past two centuries that has been absorbed by the oceans.

1,000,000
Tons of CO2 absorbed by the oceans every hour.

25
Percent of ocean species that spend at least part of their life in coral reefs. 

80
Percent of loss of coral reefs in the Caribbean from 1977-2001.

2050
Year the oceans coral reefs predicted to loose "ecological functionality." 

 

Source: The Acid Sea, National Geopgraphic