Acid Test is an excellent film about the global threat of ocean acidification, which poses a fundamental challenge to marine life and the health of the entire planet. The 21-minute film, produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council and narrated by Sigourney Weaver, with some beautiful cinematography, is now available online in its entirety (also here). Dr. Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution, one of several scientists in the film, says, “We’re moving from a world of rich biological diversity into essentially one of weeds…If we destroy these ecosystems it will take millions of years for them to recover.” Another scientist says, “Changes that haven’t happened for millions of years are starting to happen right before our eyes.” The only way to stop acidification is to reduce carbon emissions.

From the NRDC Website:

Ocean Acidification: The Other CO2 Problem

Increased carbon dioxide is changing the chemistry of the earth’s oceans, threatening marine life

Earth’s atmosphere isn’t the only victim of burning fossil fuels. About a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by the earth’s oceans, where they’re having an impact that’s just starting to be understood.

Over the last decade, scientists have discovered that this excess CO2 is actually changing the chemistry of the sea and proving harmful for many forms of marine life. This process is known as ocean acidification.

A more acidic ocean could wipe out species, disrupt the food web and impact fishing, tourism and any other human endeavor that relies on the sea.

The change is happening fast—and it will take fast action to slow or stop it. Over the last 250 years, oceans have absorbed 530 billion tons of CO2, triggering a 30 percent increase in ocean acidity.

Before people started burning coal and oil, ocean pH had been relatively stable for the previous 20 million years. But researchers predict that if carbon emissions continue at their current rate, ocean acidity will more than double by 2100…

See the NRDC Website and the citations to scientific literature posted there for more.