Chemistry ft Greenhouse Gases

The increase in carbon emissions is changing the chemistry of the atmosphere
and ocean, causing atmospheric warming and ocean acidification.

Natural
Greenhouse Effect

Infrared

Re-Emitted
Heat

Human-Enhanced
Greenhouse Effect

Heat
Escapes

Infrared
Radiation

~ A <9

<5?

Solar
Radiation



More Heat
Gets Trapped

itted

Invisible greenhouse gases trap outgoing infrared radiation, which warms

the atmosphere.

Human activities, especially burning fossil fuels, release large amounts of
greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (C02). These gases are emitted to
the atmosphere and absorbed by the ocean, changing the chemistry of both.

c 450
O I 400

•-P a

£ a 350

c *"



950 to 2023 CE

&

&

-400,000
Year (negative values = BCE*)

+ li

*BCE=Before Common
Era; CE=Common Era

From 1990 to 2019, the warming effect
from emissions due to human activity

INCREASED BY 45%

The warming effect associated
with C02 alone has

INCREASED BY 36%

Carbon Dioxide

Water

1 >

Carbonic Acid

Acidity has increased in the
Pacific Ocean near Hawaii

Increasing alkalinity Neutral Increasing acidity

14 13 12 11 10 09 08 I 07 06 05 04 03 02 01

Lye

Ammonia

Sea
Water

Baking soda

Corals and ocean shellfish less able
to produce skeletons and shells

c	| Battery acid

Lemon juice
Vinegar

Adult fish die
Fish reproduction affected
Normal range of precipitation pH

8.20
8.15
8.10
PH 8.05
8.00
7.95

Less
Acidic

More
Acidic

Normal range of stream pH

2000 2010
Year

The increase in acidity makes it difficult for some marine
life to make and maintain their calcium carbonate shells.













vvEPA epa.gov/climate-indicators

January 2025 VqI
EPA 430-F-25-002 ftSi

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