海洋酸化的生态危害研究进展

Ecological Impact of Ocean Acidification

工业革命以来,人类活动产生的巨量CO2进入大气层,不仅产生严重的温室效应,也使得全球海洋出现酸化现象。海洋中氢离子浓度在最近200年里已经上升了30%,21世纪内将再增加3倍,到22世纪海洋将处于极端酸性环境。已有的报道显示,酸化将对石灰化型生物造成非常严重的损害,但海洋酸化对生态系统稳定和人类健康的影响需要长时间的观察和研究。本文总结了近年来有关海洋酸化研究的最新成果,介绍了海洋中不同生态系统所受海洋酸化的影响方式和影响程度,展望了未来研究的方向思路和对策。

Approximately one-half of the carbon dioxide （CO2） produced by fossil fuel burning and cement production as a result of human activities during the past 200 years is being taken up by the oceans. This absorption process is chemically changing the oceans, in particular, increasing its acidity. It is reported that the uptake of CO2 has led to a reduction of the pH value of surface seawater of 0.1 units, equivalent to a 30% increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions. If global emission of CO2 from human activities continues to rise at the current rates, the average pH value of the oceans could fall by 0.5 units （equivalent to a three fold increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions） by the year 2100. This pH value would be lower than that has been experienced for hundreds of millennia and, critically, this rate of change is probably hundred times greater than at any time over this period. The evidence suggests that acidification of seawater would damage the calcifying organisms but it is unclear bow that will affect stability of ecosystem and human health. The increasing fragility and sensitivity of marine ecosystems need to be taken into consideration during the formulation of any policies about their conservation, sustainable use and exploitation, or the communities that depend on them. Actions need to be taken now to reduce global emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere to avoid the risk of irreversible damage to the oceans. No option that can make a significant contribution should be ignored.