Forecasting impacts of ocean acidification on marine communities: Utilizing volcanic CO₂ vents as natural laboratories

Abstract

Oceans have absorbed approximately 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, causing a phenomenon known as ‘ocean acidification’. With surface ocean pH changing at a rapid pace, continued uptake of CO2 is expected to decrease ocean pH by 0.3 pH units as early as 2081, accompanied by a decrease in the saturation of calcium carbonate minerals needed to produce skeletons and shells (RCP 8.5 scenario, IPCC 2019). Natural marine CO2 vent systems provide ocean acidification proxies, offering a glimpse into what a future ocean may look like.

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