Change in pH of water

Through the past, we can predict a change in the pH levels of the coastline water surrounding Japan. Sea water is in general basic, meaning that it has a pH level greater than seven (7), seven (7) being neutral. This change in pH levels could be due to many factors including soil erosion and dead material (plants, fish, etc). For example, if we are to take the case study of Wenchuan earthquake of May 12, 2008 in China. Although it was not located exactly on a coastline, it heavily impacted the bodies of water in that area due to soil erosion. The soil erosion was so severe that it increased the area by 279.2 km², 1.9% of the total statistical area of land. More than 3.9 km² of the lakes and streams were blocked by debris. The increase of soil erosion causes water to decrease its pH level and become more acidic. Acidic water can cause the death of salmon in between 12 and 27 hours, and the death of trout in 30 to 48 hours. Acidic water can also cause the death of embryos during the birth process of certain fish. This loss of the replenishing of new fish can be extremely detrimental to the redevelopment of the marine ecosystem in general after an earthquake. Acidity can also cause acute mortality, reduced growth, skeletal deformation, and reproductive abnormalities.