Oceans provide a lot of benefits to the earth. Oceans transport heat from the equator to the poles, thus regulate our climate and weather conditions and patterns. oceans also play a dramatic role in global carbon cycle. Almost half of the worlds O₂​is_​ produced by oceans. CO₂​ is absorbed by it to a greater extent, even five times more than atmosphere. CO₂​ emissions have increased substantially due to fossil fuel burning and other similar human activities. Ocean acidification is the direct consequence of increased CO₂​ emission to the atmosphere. Increased accumulation of CO₂​ in the atmosphere over a long time period, increase acidity of ocean water. In present, ocean acidification occurs almost ten times faster than 300 million years ago. Decreased pH and hence increased acidity, elevated partial pressure of CO₂​ and decreased saturation state of CaCO₃​ making conditions corrosive for many calcifying organisms like corals, planktons and many echinoderms. Coral bleaching is another effect of ocean acidification. This paper summarizes key information on ocean acidification, including its causes, changes to carbonate chemistry and its effects on marine organisms and human beings.

Keywords: Oceans, CO₂, Fossil Fuel, Temperature, Rainforests.