Fresh research shows that some coastal waters are acidifying far faster than scientists previously anticipated. Powerful upwelling currents are bringing carbon-rich deep waters to the surface, speeding up the effects of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). By combining historic coral records with advanced models, researchers at the University of St. Andrews found that acidification in these regions is accelerating faster than air pollution alone would predict.
The rapid drop in ocean pH poses urgent risks for marine ecosystems and the coastal economies that depend on them, signaling a challenge with global consequences. Click through the gallery to see what’s at stake and what actions we can take.