Various instruments monitor the ocean for levels of acidity that could have impacts on living things — including us.

View as a Web Page How Do You Measure the Acidity (pH) of the Ocean? In a chemistry lab, you determine how acidic or basic something is by using the pH scale. The scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 considered neutral, as is the case with plain water. Anything below a pH of 7 is an acid, and anything above 7 is a base, or alkaline. What makes a solution more acidic is the presence of positively charged hydrogen ions (H+), and conversely the presence of negatively charged hydroxide ions (OH-) makes it more basic. But these measurements don't just apply to liquid solutions in beakers and flasks in a lab. The biggest water source on Earth, the ocean, has a pH too — and its pH is extremely important to our planet's ecosystem. Read More MORE FROM THIS SERIES How Do You Measure It? Much of the world around us would be a mystery without good measurements. Whether it's the depth of the ocean, the nutrients in your cereal, or the age of dinosaur fossils, measurements help us to learn about our world and make good decisions about what to do in everyday life. In our "How Do You Measure It?" web series, we answer questions that will help you better understand how our modern world works — and why good measurements play an important role in your life. Read More

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