However, we do have lots of specific data about the vast amounts of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. That alone should be the cause for great concern because the more CO₂ in the atmosphere, the more acidic the oceans will be; indeed, we are seeing an unprecedented rate of acidification. Rising ocean acidity can make the ocean uninhabitable for many creatures, and that can reverberate throughout the entire food chain. Shellfish, corals, and plankton are easily affected, but also types of algae have calcium coverings as protection. The L.A. Times ran a series, “The Primeval Tide of Toxins” (referenced in this blog) about how the acidic waters make the habitat more suitable for primordial creatures, like jellyfish, and we are witnessing a surge in their populations.

In short, climate is not the only potentially life-threatening result of human actions on the planet. There is an upcoming documentary on this subject named Acid Test.

It’s unclear how or if this practice addresses the growing threat of rising sea levels and rising water temperature; coral reefs can recover, but any thorough restoration effort must address the root causes of the sickness. Otherwise, the effort becomes something like lung transplant surgery for a smoker… it might make the person live longer, but a more effective solution would be to quit smoking. It’s unclear how much agricultural pesticides, industrial runoff, and fishing practices have damaged the reefs.