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Earth is a liquid planet.

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70 percent of its surface is covered by water 
yet much is still unknown about the depths

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of the oceans.

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They call it inner space - an inhospitable 
environment difficult to explore and unfit

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for human habitation.

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Nevertheless, scientists have figured out 
ways to work and live on the ocean floor.

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Aquarius is the only operating undersea station 
in the world today.

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There are very few people that get to do this 
kind of work.

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This is like getting into a submarine, except 
we can swim out any time we want.

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The Aquarius Reef Base gives researchers around 
the clock access to a coral reef ecosystem.

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Over the last several decades, coral reefs 
around the world have drastically declined

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in health.

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Now scientists fear that a change in the chemistry 
of the water could add further insult to injury.

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Ocean acidification occurs when CO2 dissolves 
into seawater and it reacts with the water

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to make an acid.

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Aquanauts living at Aquarius are the first 
to study this process 24/7 - using new high

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tech instruments.

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What impact might ocean acidification have 
on the reef?

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What else might the scientists findings 
tell us?