... It makes up for only 0.03% of the total mass of the atmosphere. This fraction seems small but the function of CO2 in global biological and environmental systems is of prime importance (Loewenthal & Marais, 1978). Despite its low atmospheric concentration, carbon dioxide is normally abundant in natural waters because its solubility is more than 30 times higher than that of oxygen. The marine carbonate system represents the largest carbon pool in the atmosphere, biosphere, and ocean and is therefore of primary importance for the partition of excess carbon dioxide produced by man. Carbon dioxide in the water dissolves, making carbonic acid, which lowers the pH. The pH can rise due to removal of carbonic acid by plants and algae. In water, the pH is mainly controlled by the concentration of CO2 present. Free hydrogen ions lower the pH, increasing the acidity of the water. The pH directly affects aquatic organisms. ...

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