Increasingly Corrosive Conditions in UK and Ireland Ocean Waters

Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership, February 2025

A recent report on marine and coastal climate change highlights the increasing threat of ocean acidification in the Northwest European region, specifically focusing on the UK and Ireland. Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels increased 52% above pre-industrial levels in 2024, mainly resulting from fossil fuel combustion, cement production and deforestation. Typically, a quarter of the human produced CO2 is absorbed into the ocean, but this limit will soon be reached if CO2 outputs continue as predicted. Any additional amounts of CO2 in ocean water reduce pH levels, or increase acidification, with the North Atlantic particularly affected. Acidification could become so extreme that water near the seafloor in parts of the North-West European Shelf seas could start to dissolve the shells of sea creatures by 2030. These changes pose significant risks to marine ecosystems, including shellfish and cold-water coral reefs, and could then impact the wider food web. Marine wildlife as well as coastal communities and economies are at risk, even if species can adapt quickly to the more acidic waters.

Full Paper: https://www.mccip.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-02/Ocean%20Acidification_update%20Feb%202025.pdf
New coverage by PML: https://pml.ac.uk/news/uk-waters-facing-accelerated-ocean-acidification-new-pml-led-study-reveals/