According to a study conducted by an international team of researchers, the rate at which the oceans are currently becoming more acidic has increased due to carbon emissions from humans.

Oceanic acidification is nothing new; oceans have been naturally acidified in the past, notably, as scientists learned, several times in the last 300 million years.

During the process of acidification, the oceans moderately draw excess carbon from the atmosphere. The carbon then reacts with the seawater to create carbonic acid, which causes most marine life to die off. Over time, the carbon acid is neutralized to form fossils of dead organisms.

“We know that life during past ocean acidification events was not wiped out—new species evolved to replace those that died off,” Bärbel Hönisch, a paleoceanographer at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, states in a press release from the Earth Institute at Columbia University. “But if industrial carbon emissions continue at the current pace, we may lose organisms we care about—coral reefs, oysters, salmon.”

Due to the rate at which carbon is entering the atmosphere, oceans are forced to draw it in more quickly and, therefore, are unable to deal with the excess.

Based on their studies, researchers discovered that acidification causes mass extinctions of marine life and disrupts ecosystems. In the 1990s, scientists found a layer of mud between two beds of carbonated fossil beds (the mud was created from dissolved fossils) from the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) 56 million years ago.

They learned that in a span of 5,000 years, concentrations of atmospheric carbon doubled, and that the global temperature increased by 6º C (43º F), and the ocean pH dropped by 0.45, indicating that the acidity level rose.

Past research has revealed two other definite past occurrences of rapid seawater acidification, caused by massive volcanism. The first occurred in the Permian Period, 252 million years ago. In the vicinity of present-day Russia, immense amounts of carbon spewed from volcanic eruptions.

A staggering 96% of marine life went extinct. Researchers found dead zones around Russia’s coast and discovered that they only contain organisms able to withstand the high levels of carbon. The second occurrence took place 201 million years ago, during the Triassic period. A likewise percentage of species became extinct. In addition, the coral reefs were destroyed.

Numerous studies of oceans and the correlation of rising acidity levels and diminishing marine life are being conducted around the globe. For example, as stated by an article in the journal Nature, one study of the coral reefs at Papa New Guinea shows that the pH dropped 7.8 (a lot higher than the 0.48 stated before, as one can see), and so has coral reef diversity.

Christopher Langdon, a biological oceanographer at the University of Miami who co-authored the study on Papua New Guinea reefs, says “These studies give you a sense of the timing involved in past ocean acidification events—they did not happen quickly.”

Despite the present evidence of the build-up of carbon emissions and the detriments it has caused, decades would have to pass before the acidification would truly have to show its effects.

“Considering the effects we detect through fossil records,” Patrizia Ziveri, researcher at ICTA tells Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, “there is no doubt that we must tackle the problem at its roots as soon as possible, adopting measures to immediately reduce our CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.”

A number of the researchers involved with the original studies are from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and the Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA).

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Sun soaked Miami, Florida is a vacation destination for visitors across the country and world wide. Known for its year round warm climate, tropical beaches, and energizing nightlife, Miami has been a hotspot for decades. Palm tree lined streets and a beach atmosphere makes for a perfect travel getaway.

Miami is a crossroads of American and Caribbean cultures and the city blends its flavor and influences to share with the world. Any visitor spending a weekend in Miami can have a fun filled vacation, experiencing all the city has to offer, while maintaining a healthy, green lifestyle.

The Clifton South Beach Hotel brings the stylish, chic atmosphere of Miami living to its guests. It is one of the premier South Beach hotels, located just steps away from the famous tropical beach, restaurants, and bars.

The Clifton South Beach Hotel sets itself apart from other properties by putting in impeccable, environmentally friendly attention to detail. The interior furnishings are made with recyclable and renewable materials. This includes areas like the dry wall, to the mattresses. The paints used throughout the building have zero volatile organic compounds.

Each room comes with bath products that are good for the environment. The Carlton South Beach is a LEED hotel, and a carbon neutral hotel. The exterior of the hotel stays true to its art deco roots; a popular architectural style seen throughout beautiful South Beach. Staying at the Carlton South Beach gives guests an optimal location and can satisfy any environmentalist’s needs.

A first stop on any Miami itinerary is often to the legendary beach. Taking in the soft white sand and turquoise colored ocean is a breathtaking scene for any new visitor, or long time visitor, to South Beach. Finding an empty spot of the sand and spending the day at the beach is a fun, free, eco friendly activity for anyone to enjoy.

Bringing a picnic lunch with locally sourced food is a healthy option to a day at the beach. Working on a golden tan, cooling off in the clear ocean, and playing a game of volleyball are all popular ways to pass the time in South Beach.

Enjoying the outdoors is possibly one of the most fulfilling ways to appreciate the environment. However, while doing so, it is always important to keep the beach clean and the way it was originally found.

Getting around South Beach has never been greener. Walking is an easy, healthy way to get around the neighborhood. Visitors taking a stroll along famous Ocean Drive can get some exercise and pass through one outdoor restaurant after another.

Swoop, a newly introduced company, makes traveling through South Beach eco friendly, and free. Swoop is a line of electric golf carts, seating up to six passengers at a time, that brings people around the South Beach neighborhood. Passengers can go run errands, go grocery shopping, or be dropped off at their favorite restaurant.

Swoop operates every day of the week from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. This free service is now a well known way to easily get around town, without doing any harm on the environment.

South Beach streets are full of shopping opportunities. The pedestrian only street of Lincoln Road gives people an all around outdoor shopping and dining experience. People can browse through stores, sit at an outdoor café, and spend some leisure time in the relaxed ambiance.

Mango Tree, a shop located on 6th street, is full of products made from local artists. The store sells a variety of soaps, lotions, and incense. Shopping there is a green way to bring back some souvenirs and support the artisanal products made by locals in South Beach.

For some, getting pampered is part of the ultimate relaxing vacation. Uhma Spa is an organic spa in the heart of Miami where all soothing and pampering needs can be taken care of.

All organic products are used in the different spa treatments available. Anything from back massages, body treatments, and the famous Sabai Healing Massage blends professional skill with natural products.

Uhma Spa takes a cultural spread of treatment practices, from holistic Indian traditions to aromatherapy from Europe, and makes their services good for the customer and environment.

The shop at Uhma Spa also offers a line of organic products to take home, including makeup, hair products, candles, and items for children. A day at the spa will have visitors leaving rejuvenated and refreshed, ready for a night out on the town.

Dining out in style is made easy by the numerous amounts of chic and contemporary restaurants all around South Beach. Escopazzo is an organic Italian restaurant, serving up dishes made from fresh ingredients. Offering up a menu full of favorite Italian meals, including anything from pasta, fish, meat, and raw food, Escopazzo is a great place to have a nice meal with organic products.

After a meal of delicious Italian food, tropical cocktails and nightlife await on Ocean Drive, where it is easy to dance the night away until the early morning hours. Taking in the sights and scenes of Miami, from the shopping, dining, to the beach, is now full of green places to explore.

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