Climate Science, definition of

Climate Science

Ocean Acidification (OA) is a term used to describe changes to the chemistry of the ocean.

It occurs when carbon dioxide gas (or CO2) is absorbed by the ocean and reacts with seawater to produce acid. Although CO2 gas naturally moves between the atmosphere and the oceans, the increased amounts of CO2 gas emitted into the atmosphere, mainly as a result of human activities (e.g. burning fossil fuels), has been increasing the amount of CO2 absorbed by the ocean, which results in seawater that is more acidic.

Note: the water being more acidic does not mean its actually acid, rather it is less alkaline or base, seawater pH is typically limited to a range between 7.5 and 8.4 - with 7 being pH neutral.

News & Blog articles where 'Climate Science' used:

Related Tags: climate change, environment

Search the Web for Climate Science
What is Climate Science?
Climate Science definition.
About Climate Science.

Click on a letter to see all the terms and definitions that begin with that letter.

A free Android app containing all these definitions is now available, called the Green Dictionary. Click here to see the entry on the Android market; or click here if on an Android phone.