Ocean acidification is a huge topic that all of my marine science classes discuss. Acidification affects the physical processes, biology of the oceans, the chemical makeup of the oceans, and the geology of the seafloor. I first learned about this in high school in my marine science class where the topic peaked my interest. As a marine science major, I have been taught that we need to find a way to take care of our oceans because one day the affects are going to be irreversible. I am interested in this research question because this is ultimately what I want to study and do research on when I am older. This research question affects me in several ways. For one, with the acidification of the oceans, there will be less fish, and shrimp, and they are some of my absolute favorite foods. Along with this, when I go to graduate school I want to do research on ocean acidification and see how it affects hydrothermal events. I am qualified to write about this because I am a young scientist who is currently learning about the topic, and who is interested in conducting research on this topic. Acidification is a big problem that needs to be solved. 

The three sources that I am using for my research question are described below. The first of the three articles is "The Socioeconomic costs of Ocean Acidification," by Cherie Winner. In this article, Winner talks about the affects of the decreasing the pH of the oceans sea water. This decrease in pH is from the increase in water temperature and an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide being added to the ocean. Due to this, the amount of organisms in the ocean will greatly decrease especially if they have a calcium carbonate skeleton or shells because the carbon dioxide destroys it. There is bias in both the article and the source, and there is not a counter argument in this essay. Instead, it strictly talks about the outcomes of ocean acidification and how it will affect organisms. This article is creditable because it uses sources from one of the most well known research institutions in marine science and credited researchers. 

The second source that I found to use in my argumentative research paper is "Claims About Ocean Acidification Are Overblown and Scientifically Baseless," written by Christopher Monckton. In this article Monckton argues that the decrease in pH is not because of an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide produced by humans but instead is just a natural cycle. His argument is that there is not evidence to suggest that the oceans are becoming more acidic over time. He notes that acidification is not due to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide being transferred between the ocean and the atmosphere. Instead he argues that the water runs over rocks, which keeps the water at its more basic and neutral state. This article, like the first one has bias but on the opposite side of the spectrum. This article suggest that ocean acidification does not exist because the ocean pH is alkaline heading to neutral not acidic. Monckton is a credible author because he relies on research and findings conducted by others, and uses reliable sources from books and periodicals. 

The third article I found for the argumentative essay discusses both sides of the acidification argument. The title of this article is "Carbon emissions cause dangerous ocean acidification," written by Carl Zimmer. It looks at the positives and negatives. Unlike the second article, which states that ocean acidification is not real, this article says it is but that there are positives and negatives to it. The major piece of evidence that explains the negative impacts ocean acidification on the environment is that it is killing the oceans and animals. For example, the coral reefs are being bleached and killing the animals that live there. Which could lead to a complete wipeout of an ecosystem. On the other hand, this article says that there are positives, such as additional nutrients available in the environment, which can lead to more animals in some areas. This article appears to be the most credible because it talks about both the good and the bad that can come out of ocean acidification. Along with this, many of the sources used by Zimmer are from different researchers at universities and well known companies. 

Ocean acidification is definitely an arguable topic because there is solid research as well as numerous opinions on the topic. I discovered that one of the biggest arguments regarding acidification is whether or not it is a human caused problem or a natural cycle. On the whole, my sources agree that the oceans pH is currently around 8.2. However, two of the three articles, believe that the pH is going to decrease whereas the second article states that a change will not occur, that the oceans will balance themselves out. The perspectives of the sources did affect my own. I have always been taught that humans are the cause of ocean acidification, I did not think that it could be a natural cause. It was interesting to read about and I think it will help me write a paper that looks at both factors. While ocean acidification may be a natural cycle, I wonder if humans have spread the process up? That might be a question that I include in my research question and find out more about.  

