Bignami+and+Schrager+OpEd

Ocean acidification: the other CO2 problem
Carbon dioxide is double trouble.

Most people know it's spoiling the atmosphere. Turns out it's also soiling the seas.

When carbon dioxide -- CO2 -- mixes with seawater, it creates an acid,

Big problem for the animals -- especially those with shells.

There's a classic elementary science experiment where teachers put an egg into vinegar. The shell dissolves. Same for the shells of ocean animals exposed to acid.

Now every animal on Earth produces CO2, but massive amounts are also released when we burn fossil fuels like gasoline, oil and coal. It accumulates in the atmosphere, where it's causing climate change. But some of it also plunges into the oceans.

There, it turns into the acid. That acid steals the building material that sea creatures need to make their shells: carbonate. That stunts the growth of clams, corals and sea snails. It is no fun to be the small kid on the block (especially the small kid minus a shell).

Who's going to turn this around? You and I.

Do you watch TV? Use plastics? Drive a car? Have electric lights? Take a hot shower? Cook? That's an extremely short list of CO2 producers, given that 90% of our energy comes from fossil fuels. Using less energy, recycling or investing in renewable energy are all ways to reduce the amount of CO2 we produce.

I can almost hear the clams clapping right now.