Ocean acidification: Implications to underwater acoustics

Abstract

Increasing absorption of carbon dioxide into world's oceans has caused seawater to become more acidic and warmer. In addition to many other consequences this will potentially have an impact on the propagation of sound in the ocean. Increasing acidity in seawater is bound to decrease the attenuation of sound and will result in better propagation conditions for sound. It has been observed that increased shipping has caused an increase in the ambient noise levels in the ocean and lower attenuations caused by ocean acidification could magnify this increase in noise levels. Increasing noise levels in the world's ocean and its impact on marine environment including marine mammals will continue to attract the attention of underwater acousticians.