The climate of the Earth is changing and drastically so. The average global rate for temperature is increasing each year, causing a variety of other issues to stem and grow off it including the invisible but growing issue of ocean acidity, a term first coined in only 2003 (Smithsonian, 2018, para. 5). In Canada, this is especially prominent in Nunavut and the surrounding Arctic Ocean in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Ocean acidification is the changing of the ocean surfaces chemistry when carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean (a natural sink for carbon) and forms carbonic acid (Cheek, 2014, para. 2). Oceans are naturally basic, having a pH of around 8.16 (Craig, 2012, para. 26) and have remained stable until now. The Industrial Revolution, …show more content…
Cold water naturally absorbs and dissolves carbon dioxide better than warm water (National Snow and Ice Center, 2014, para. 2) and oceans overall intakes 30% of the world’s emissions (Griffin, 2015, p. 101). This builds up carbon dioxide in our natural carbon sinks, especially in the Canadian Archipelago and affecting Inuit lifestyle in Nunavut. Humans have artificially contributed to this in numerous ways. The Industrial Revolution brought new technology, jobs, and opportunities and is uncoincidentally aligned with the rising of acidic levels in the oceans. From the Revolution until now, the pH of the ocean has dropped by 0.1 unit, representing a 30% increase in acidity (Griffin, 2015, p.101). The main reason for the rise in acidic levels lies with fossil fuel emissions. Carbon dioxide emission is not only limited to industries, but encompasses all kinds of activity that involves the presence of CO2 including transportation, electricity, and heat production. Deforestation and its lack of environmentally friendly laws also play a part in the sufferings of those who live in Nunavut (Van Dien & Stone, 2013, para. 1). Cutting down forests takes away another one of Earth's natural carbon dioxide vacuums and the lack of regulations protecting these forests only further encourage the …show more content…
3). The increased acidity of the waters of the Canadian Archipelago of Nunavut is the root of many problems. Many organisms cannot handle the strain of the acid and some may disappear altogether. Lobsters and coral reefs are calcifying marine organisms that depend on calcium carbonate minerals to form their shells and structure, but CO2 emissions inhibit this ability (Ocean Champions, n.d., para. 4). This destroys the fragile ecosystem of the Arctic, causing a ripple effect through its food chain. Industries in fishing are slowly dwindling and in turn, affecting a primary source of food that a billion people depend on (Ocean Champions, n.d., para. 5) and providing fewer jobs and less support for the economy. This is particularly devastating for Inuit communities in Nunavut who are directly dependent on the ocean in accordance with their lifestyle and culture. “Our entire culture and identity are based on free movement on land, sea ice and the Arctic Ocean…. in order to eat ….supplies for our traditional clothing…. preserve our rich cultural heritage….” (Eegeesiak, 2017, para. 6). These are the words of an Inuit who experiences her struggles first-hand. Inuits need the Arctic Ocean and its marine resources for food, their livelihood, and for their culture and spiritual heritage that are as old