A rise in the pH of ocean water will:
1. Harm marine life: A higher pH can disrupt the balance of calcium carbonate in marine organisms, which can harm shellfish and coral reefs. This can have a cascading effect on the entire oceanic ecosystem.
2. Impact marine food webs: Changes in pH can affect the abundance and distribution of phytoplankton and other marine organisms, which can disrupt the entire marine food web.
3. Increase ocean acidification: A rise in pH is often linked to ocean acidification, which can have detrimental effects on marine life, especially organisms that rely on calcium carbonate for their shells or skeletons.
4. Impact commercial fisheries: Changes in ocean pH can disrupt the habitats of fish and other marine organisms that are important for commercial fisheries, leading to potential decreases in fish populations and economic losses for the fishing industry.
5. Contribute to climate change: Ocean acidification can also affect the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which can contribute to global climate change.