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The British government has announced plans to fund research into ocean 'acidification'. Ideally, the oceans should be slightly alkaline, with a of 8.2, but they are apparently becoming gradually more acidic thanks to our old friend carbon dioxide.

Acidity impairs the ability of various sea-dwelling critters to make shells and other calcium-based exoskeletons. Some scientists fear that , so , co-funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Natural Environment Research Council (Nerc).

Oceans are natural that are reckoned to have absorbed as much as 50% of the fossil-fuel CO₂ released by human activity over the last 200 years. This may have raised acidity by as much as 0.1 pH, which doesn't sound much but could .

The impact of acidification is improperly understood. We already know that parts of the - Earth's other great natural carbon sink - may actually be .

And only two years ago, fears were that the , thereby depriving us of an invaluable carbon sink. Hopefully this new research boost will provide some valuable answers.

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