Shipping contributes to ocean acidification

The potential effect on surface water pH of emissions of SOX and NOX from global ship routes is assessed. The results indicate that regional pH reductions of the same order of magnitude as the CO2-driven acidification can occur in heavily trafficked waters. These findings have important consequences...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Hassellöv, Ida-Maja, Turner, David R., Lauer, A., Corbett, J.J.
Language:unknown
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Ecology
Ocean acidification
Sulfur oxides
Nitrogen oxides
Shipping
Carbonic acid
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50521
https://research.chalmers.se/en/publication/177616
Description
Summary:The potential effect on surface water pH of emissions of SOX and NOX from global ship routes is assessed. The results indicate that regional pH reductions of the same order of magnitude as the CO2-driven acidification can occur in heavily trafficked waters. These findings have important consequences for ocean chemistry, since the sulfuric and nitric acids formed are strong acids in contrast to the weak carbonic acid formed by dissolution of CO2. Our results also provide background for discussion of expanded controls to mitigate acidification due to these shipping emissions.

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