In what could spell a doom for the marine life and coral reefs off the coast, a significant study by scientists of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) reveals that the pH levels in the coastal waters north of Visakhapatnam has dropped five times more than the average global levels.
This means, the acidity levels have soared considerably over the past three decades. This is likely to have an adverse impact on a number of marine species and the growth of phytoplankton (micro-algae) and coral reefs, which are critical to maintaining the balance of ecosystem in oceans.
“This phenomenon is spotted in the months from October to March, when the northeast and northwest winds bring land derived industrial effluents and pollutants through air towards the ocean which dissolve in the water and turn it acidic,” Chief Scientist, NIO V.S.N. Murty told
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Acidification happens as a result of increased carbon in the atmosphere. Interestingly, till 1991 the atmospheric carbon-dioxide was absorbed by the ocean which acted as a carbon sink. But now, the latest study points out that the sea north of Vizag is releasing carbon-dioxide due to the rising water acidity levels.
The study was conducted along the 400-km coastline from north of Visakhapatnam till Paradeep and up to 100 km into the sea from the shore. As a result of the rising acidity levels, the study indicated a drop in the sea surface temperature by 0.6 degrees Celsius since 1982. “This is quite significant and we are at present studying its impact on phytoplanktons by testing samples,” said principal scientist V.V.S.S. Sarma, who has been conducting the detailed study on pH levels of the coast and its impact since 2007.