What is the difference between ocean acidification and eutrophication?

Ocean acidification refers to the decrease in pH of the Earth's oceans, while eutrophication is nutrient enrichment in water bodies.

Ocean acidification is a process that occurs when carbon dioxide gas is absorbed by the ocean and reacts with seawater to produce acid. This process has increased significantly since the industrial revolution, leading to a decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans. The acidification of the ocean can have severe effects on marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as corals and shellfish, as the increased acidity can cause these structures to dissolve.

On the other hand, eutrophication is a process that occurs when a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients, which induce excessive growth of plants and algae. This excessive growth, often a result of runoff from the land, can create a dense cover on the water surface, blocking light and making life below the surface difficult for other organisms. When these plants and algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose, a process that consumes oxygen and can lead to the depletion of oxygen in the water, causing the death of other organisms, such as fish. This process is often associated with human activities, such as agriculture and sewage disposal, which can contribute high levels of nutrients to bodies of water.

In summary, while both ocean acidification and eutrophication can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, they are caused by different processes. Ocean acidification is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide by seawater, leading to a decrease in pH, while eutrophication is caused by the excessive enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, leading to excessive plant and algae growth and potential oxygen depletion.