Simulation Principles and Formula

This simulation models the impact of increasing atmospheric CO₂ levels on ocean pH. As CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere increases, more CO₂ dissolves into the ocean, forming carbonic acid and thereby lowering the ocean’s pH (i.e. increasing its acidity).

A simple linear approximation is used to estimate the decrease in ocean pH over time:

$$\displaystyle \text{pH}_{t+1} = \text{pH}_t - 0.002 \times \left(\text{CO}_2\ \text{Increase} \times t\right)$$

where:

• \( \text{pH}_t \) is the ocean pH at year \( t \) (unitless, on the pH scale),
• \( \text{CO}_2\ \text{Increase} \) is the annual increase in atmospheric CO₂ (in ppm/year), and
• \( t \) is the number of years elapsed.

The simulation assumes that the cumulative effect of the annual CO₂ increase results in a gradual linear decrease in ocean pH.