Why Should We Care?

The concentration of carbonate ions is decreasing, shifting calcium carbonate’s dissolution reaction and causing more calcium carbonate to dissolve. If carbonate ion concentrations decrease sufficiently, the shells of marine animals will begin to dissolve. To see the dissolving of the shell of a marine pteropod or sea butterfly, watch the video below.

The dissolving of calcium carbonate in ocean water would have detrimental consequences for many marine ecosystems, for the loss of biodiversity, and for the food chain.