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When there is an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere, more of the CO2 is able to react with the ocean. Once they react, it forms carbonic acid. The carbonic acid molecules release two hydrogen molecules each, increasing the acidity of the water. This then dissolves the shells and exoskeletons of sea creatures as they are made up of calcium carbonate. Zooplankton are especially in danger as they have thin exoskeletons, easily disintegrated by these reactions. Although this may seem insignificant, Zooplankton are the base of the marine life food chain, so it disrupts the whole cycle/ a wide variety of marine species.
Scientists from the Yale Forum in Climate Change and The Media believe that there is a threat of large amounts for Carbon will be released into the atmosphere from permafrost in the near future. As permafrost thaws, so does the organic matter and it begins to decay. Microorganisms eat it, if there is no oxygen, they produce Methane, but if there is, they produce Carbon Dioxide. In the Arctic, the climate has been impacted faster and to a larger extent than predicted in the models, so there is a high potential for large amounts of carbon dioxide to be released from the Arctic ecosystems. There is no way to control the thawing permafrost, they believe “it just will go away by itself”. Dr. Vaks from Oxford University says that the tipping point is somewhere around 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperature globally (when the permafrost will begin to melt). If we can limit our emissions of Carbon Dioxide, then the permafrost will release less into the atmosphere.
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