History of Seawater Carbonate Chemistry, Atmospheric CO2, and Ocean Acidification

2012/05/02 by Richard E. Zeebe · 428 citations
Chemistry · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Carbon dioxide #Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere #Carbonate #Carbonate minerals #Chemical oceanography #Chemistry #Climate change #Context (archaeology) #Earth history #Earth science #Environmental science #Geochemistry #Geologic record #Geology #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies #Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses #Ocean acidification #Ocean chemistry #Oceanography #Paleontology #Seawater

paper · doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-042711-105521

published in Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 40(1), 141-165 (Annual Reviews)

openalex publication_date 2012/05/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

Humans are continuing to add vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to the atmosphere through fossil fuel burning and other activities. A large fraction of the CO 2 is taken up by the oceans in a process that lowers ocean pH and carbonate mineral saturation state. This effect has potentially serious consequences for marine life, which are, however, difficult to predict. One approach to address the issue is to study the geologic record, which may provide clues about what the future holds for ocean chemistry and marine organisms. This article reviews basic controls on ocean carbonate chemistry on different timescales and examines past ocean chemistry changes and ocean acidification events during various geologic eras. The results allow evaluation of the current anthropogenic perturbation in the context of Earth's history. It appears that the ocean acidification event that humans are expected to cause is unprecedented in the geologic past, for which sufficiently well-preserved records are available.

Citations

• The carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle and its effect on atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 100 million years
• GEOCARB II; a revised model of atmospheric CO 2 over Phanerozoic time

Cited by

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• When Stabilizing Feedbacks Wreak Havoc in Habitable Planets: Chaos at the Freezing Point in a Four-Feedback Climate Model
• Carbonate platform evidence of ocean acidification at the onset of the early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event
• Ocean acidification and photic‐zone anoxia at the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event: Insights from the Adriatic Carbonate Platform
• Seasonal and Interannual Variability of the CO2 System in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: A Case Study in the North Western Levantine Basin
• Is the relative thickness of ammonoid septa influenced by ocean acidification, phylogenetic relationships and palaeogeographic position?
• Ocean acidification [wikipedia]

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