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Marine Chemistry Flashcards

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1
Q

Properties of water

A

polar substance - relatively high
strong dissolver of polar substances
highest surface tension of all liquids- except Hg- Important as capillary action in plants
Highest heat capacity of all liquids (except NH3)- prevents rapid fluctuations in temperature
latent heat of fusion- highest of all solids and liquids- heat transfer at poles- keeps polar ice caps cold
latent heat of evaportion- highest- heat transfer and evaportaiton
thermal expansion-15% greater than Hg- sea levels rise
Transparency- high- photosynthesis

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2
Q

Latent heat of fusion

A

amount of thermal energy required to change the state of a liquid to solid or gas to liquid

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3
Q

Photosynthesis happens where

A

top 30cm of ocean

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4
Q

water + salt means

A 
higher density
lower freezing point
higher boiling point
increases electrical conductivity
increases viscosity
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5
Q

mass of sea water that is water

A

97.5%

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6
Q

salinity

A

• The quantity of dissolved inorganic salts in the
water
• Measured in ppt (‰) - g of inorganic dissolved
ions in 1 kg seawater – generally 34-37 ppt
• Measured by titration, or by conductivity

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7
Q

Measuring salinity using chlorinity

A 
• Chlorinity is a measure of the amount of
chlorine in seawater, which is directly
proportional to the salinity
• Measured via titration
• An accurate method independent of
temperature & pressure
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8
Q

Factors that influence salinity

A

evaporation, freezing -> ↑ salinity

rainfall, runoff, snowfall -> ↓ salinity

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9
Q

Why measure salinity?

A

• Salinity affects:
• the density of water (and hence oceanic circulation)
• the rate and equilibrium state of chemical reactions
• Dissolved inorganic ions in seawater can alter
the solubility of substances in the ocean

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10
Q

chemical equilibrium

A

Chemical equilibrium is where there is no net
change over time in the chemical activities or
concentrations of the reactants and products
aA + bB ⇔ cC + dD

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11
Q

Ionic strength (I)

A 
The influence of ions in a solvent on solubility is
measured by ionic strength (I).
I = 0.5 Σ mi zi
2
m = molality: concentration in mol.kg-1
z = ion charge/valence
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12
Q

Why calculate I?

A 
• Property of H2O is
high polarity & readily
dissolves polar solids
• As I ↑, amount of
charged particles in
H2O ↑ and solubility of
polar substances and
proteins increases (to a
point)
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13
Q

Chemical equilibrium at I=0

A

• For solvents with low ion concentrations (e.g.
pure water, river water), dissolved substances
behave “ideally” :
aA + bB ⇔ cC + dD
• We can ignore the influence of dissolved ions
and determine the equilibrium point as follows:
Keq = [C]c[D]d / [A]a[B]b

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14
Q

Chemical equilibrium at I>0

A

• When I>0 reactants & products behave in an
“unideal” manner and K based on
concentrations is wrong
• Equilibrium constant now written as:
• Keq = {C}c{D}d / {A}a{B}b
• {} = ion activity, total concentrations must be
corrected by ionic strength effects to work out
the equilibrium point in salt water

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15
Q

Ionic Activity

A

• A measure of how ions in a non-ideal reaction

interact

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16
Q

Ionic strength

A

a measure of the concentration

of dissolved ions in a solution

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17
Q

Ionic activity

A

describes how ions behave

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18
Q

Implications of increasing salinity

A 
Increasing salinity in
freshwater systems may
increase phosphate solubility
(Nielsen et al 2003).
Solubility of complex metals
may increase along an estuary
(Gerringa et al 2001).
Dissolved nutrients and metals
may be toxic to biota
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19
Q

Summary seawater properties

A

• Water is a polar substance with a unique
combination of properties which make water
essential to life on Earth
• Seawater has consistent ionic composition
• Salinity alters the equilibrium state of reactions,
esp. the solubility of polar substances &
proteins

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20
Q

Euphotic zone:

A

enough light to
support
photosynthesis

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21
Q

Disphotic

A

measurable
levels of light,
insufficient for
photosynthesis

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22
Q

Aphotic

A

no
measurable
light

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23
Q

Light availability & primary production

SeaWiFS

A

Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view

Sensor

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24
Q

Light attenuation

• With no scattering,

A

light is attenuated
exponentially through the water column:
• IZ = I0 exp(-Kd dz)
• Iz [Watts m-2] is the light at a depth z, dz [m]
below I0
• I0 [Watts m-2] light at top of the water column
• Kd [m-1] is the attenuation coefficient

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25
Q

Factors that influence Kd

A

→ Kd = Kw + KTSS . TSS + KChl . Chl
TSS: concentration of Total Suspended Solids [kg.m-3]
kTSS - TSS-specific att. coef. ~ 30 m2 kg-1
Chl: concentration of Chlorophyll (Chl a) [mg.m-3]
kChl - Chl-specific att. coef. ~ 0.02 m2 mg (Chl a)-1
Kw: attenuation coefficient of pure H2O ≈ 0.04 m-1

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26
Q

Measuring light attenuation & Kd

A
  • Secchi disc

* Light meter

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27
Q

Summary light transmission

A

• Light attenuates exponentially with depth
• All photosynthesis occurs within photic zone
(depth to which 1% available light penetrates)
• Attenuation quantified by Kd
• High K = rapid attenuation

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28
Q

Biogeochemical cycles

A

The transport and transformation of elements or
compounds as a result of biological, chemical and
geological processes
Element pools (reservoirs) and fluxes
(movements)
• Understanding these allows us to create a budget

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29
Q

Closed systems:

A

new nutrients are not added to the

system and must be recycled

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30
Q

Positive flux

A

source (elements flow out)

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31
Q

Negative flux

A

sink (more in than out)

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32
Q

The ocean is a CO2…

A

– CO2 highly soluble in seawater
– 60 times more CO2 in the ocean
than the atmosphere
• Coal deposits are a CO2 source

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33
Q

DIC

A 
• DIC (dissolved inorganic
carbon) – CO2, HCO3 (≈ 90%),
CO3
2- (≈ 9%)
• DIC : organic carbon
≈ 40 : 1
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34
Q

Research into C cycle involves huge

international collaborations:

A

– JGOFS: Joint Global Ocean Flux Study
– IPCC: Inter-governmental Panel for
Climate Change

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35
Q

Global Carbon Cycle

A 
Predominantly a gaseous cycle
• CO2 is the main vector linking
atmosphere, oceans and terrestrial
habitats
• Carbon is the “currency” in which
energy is stored in food webs
– Predominantly enters food webs from
the bottom up (used in photosynthesis)
36
Q

Physical/solubility pump
• The movement of C between the
deep and shallow open ocean
• Relies on 2 main processes:

A

– Enhanced solubility of CO2 in cold
water
– Upwelling of deep water at the
equator

37
Q

Solubility pump

A

• CO2 more soluble in cold than warm water (i.e. more
soluble at the poles than the tropics)
• At the poles CO2 is ‘pumped’ from atmosphere to
ocean
• Cold, dense water sinks taking CO2 to the deep ocean
and flows at depths to equatorial latitudes (thermo- haline circulation)
• Deep water up-wells in equatorial latitudes, as it warms
CO2 solubility drops and outgases to the atmosphere

38
Q

Biological pump

A

A biological carbon linkage between

ocean surface and deep ocean

39
Q

Form of organic carbon

A

dead animals “remineralized” by bacteria to inorganic carbon

40
Q

Continental shelf pump

A 
• A mechanism of transfer of CO2 from
atmosphere to ocean in shallow coastal
waters
• Proposed by Tsunogai et al (1999)
• Relies on same principles that drive the
biological and solubility pumps

• Shallow waters tend to be cooler than the open ocean (due to
evaporation etc.)
• CO2 is more soluble in cool, dense water (remember the solubility
pump)
• Dissolved CO2 is incorporated into food webs
• Organisms die & sink to seafloor, organic C carried offshore
(remember the biological pump)
• Estimated global capacity ~ 1 Gt C.yr-

41
Q

Coal deposits

A

C sink
• Human activities
liberate C from this
sink

42
Q

Potential human impact on biological pump positive feedback

A

Positive feedback
•  temperature of ocean surface leading to  ocean mixing
•  ocean mixing means  nutrients brought up from deep
water
•  strength of biological pump removing CO2 from
atmosphere
• A positive feedback as  CO2 also  rate of this process

43
Q

Potential human impact on biological pump negative feedback

A

Warmer planet will have more droughts.
• More dust with trace nutrients gets from land to ocean
•  trace nutrients  strength of biological pump removing
more CO2 from atmosphere.
•  CO2 results in  CO2 uptake into biological pump
• A negative feedback

44
Q

Solubility pump is dependent on 2 factors:

A

CO2 is more soluble in cold water

– Thermo-haline circulation

45
Q

Global warming is predicted to

A

– Increase sea surface temperatures

– Slow the thermo-haline circulation

46
Q

deep ocean storage

A

CO2 lakes

47
Q

Acidity

A

pH = -log10 [H+]

48
Q

Liquid water dissociates by the reaction:

A

H2O ↔ H+ + OH

49
Q

Alkalinity

A

Alkalinity (A) of a solution is a measure of the

negative ions present that can neutralise H+

50
Q

Seawater has a strong

A

buffering capacity

51
Q

Carbonate buffering system

A 
Carbonate buffering system plays essential role
in maintaining ocean pH:
If too acidic: CO3
2- + H+ → HCO3
-
If too basic: HCO3- → CO3
2- + H+
52
Q

average pH of ocean

A

This maintains ocean pH at an average of 8.1

gets it from organisms

53
Q

2 reactions when CO2 dissolves in seawater

A

CO2 reacts with H2O to form carbonic acid (H2CO3)
CO2+ H2O → H2CO3
Carbonic acid then dissociates releasing H+ and
bicarbonate ions
H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3
-
So if we ↑ CO2, the initial reaction is ↓ pH (i.e. more H+
ions)

54
Q

Predictions for 2100

A 
IPCC A2 ‘differentiated world or delayed development’
scenario puts us at 850 ppm of atmospheric CO2 in 2100
(presently 390, up from 280 in 1750).
This will lead to a 50% decrease in CO3
2-
, reducing
oceanic pH by 0.35
Ocean pH will change from 8.20 to 7.85
55
Q

animals most as risk form decrease in pH

A

those that rely upon the
synthesis of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
Calcification by pteropods
Fish rely on CaCO3 otoliths (earstones)
to navigate towards reef habitats
Ocean acidification may result in the production of
deformed otoliths
Fish with deformed otoliths struggle to find suitable reef
habitats
snails unable to make thick shells to fend off prey so have to run

56
Q

Summary - Acidification

A 
The ocean is an important sink for
anthropogenic CO2
• Dissolution of CO2 in ocean lowers ocean pH
(i.e. acidifies the ocean)
CO2
\+ H2O ↔ H2CO3
H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3
-
H+ + CO3 2- ↔ HCO3
-
57
Q

Summary - Calcification

A

Ocean acidification reduces calcification
H+ + CO3
2- ↔ HCO3
-
Ca2+(aq) + CO3
2-
(aq) ↔ CaCO3(s)
Impacts upon survival, physiology and behaviour
of marine life and predator-prey interactions etc.

58
Q

What is nitrogen used in

A

N used in amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids
(DNA and RNA)
• Incorporated into chlorophyll used in
photosynthesis
• A limiting nutrient, particularly in temperate
marine ecosystems

59
Q

N compounds

A 
N2 nitrogen gas
NO2
- nitrite
NO3
- nitrate
NH3 ammonia
NH4
\+ ammonium
60
Q

Inorganic N

A

• The majority takes forms not accessible to organisms
• Major sink is the atmosphere – N2(g) cannot be used
by vast majority of life

61
Q

For N to be useful

A

must be converted to forms available to
organisms (nitrite NO2-, nitrate NO3-, ammonia NH3,
ammonium NH4+)

62
Q

nitrogen bottleneck

A 
Process of converting N2(g) to a useful form
known as ‘nitrogen fixation’
Fixation may be:
Biotic: performed by bacteria
Abiotic: lightning strikes
Anthropogenic: Haber process
63
Q

Nitrifying bacteria

A

convert N2(g) to
ammonia NH3 (nitrogen fixing) and then to nitrates and
nitrites- approx. 90% N fixed by bacteria
Nitrosomonas: ammonium NH3 → nitrite NO2-
Nitrobacter: nitrite NO2- → nitrate NO3-
These forms of N can be used by plants in various
functions (amino acids, component of DNA etc.)

64
Q

Denitrifying bacteria

A

Decomposing organic material: decomposing bacteria
also produce ammonia (NH3)
NH3 converted by bacteria back into NO2- and NO3-
(denitrifying bacteria)
NO3
- → N2(g) Pseudomonas

65
Q

Nitrification

A

conversion of atmospheric N to ammonia to
nitrite and then to nitrate by microbes
N2(g) → NH3 → NO2
- → NO3

66
Q

Denitrification

A

conversion of nitrate to atmospheric N by
bacteria
NO3
- → N2(g)

67
Q

Fixation may be: 3 types

A

Biotic: performed by bacteria
Abiotic: lightning strikes
Anthropogenic: Haber process

68
Q

Abiotic N fixation

Lightning responsible for

A 
8% global N fixation,
although estimates very ‘rubbery’ (Nesbitt et al 2000)
N2(g) + O2(g) → 2NO (nitric oxide)
2NO + O2 → 2NO2 (nitrogen dioxide)
2NO2 + H2O → HNO2 + HNO3 (nitrous acid + nitric acid)
HNO2 ↔ H+ + NO2
-
HNO3 ↔ H+ + NO3
-
69
Q

Haber-Bosch fixation

Anthropogenic N fixation

A

Carried out at high pressure and temperatures
• Fertilizer produced using the catalysed reaction:
N2(g) + 3H2(g) ==> 2NH3(g)
• NH3(g) converted to a crystalline form

70
Q

N fixation for agriculture 3 facts

A 
• Haber-Bosch has facilitated
agricultural intensification
• 40% of world’s population is
alive because of it
• An additional 3 billion
people by 2050 will be
sustained by it
71
Q

Eutrophication:

A 
accelerated production
of organic matter (esp. algae) in a water
body as a result of increasing nutrient
inputs
Results in harmful algal blooms (HABs)
Algae consume dissolved oxygen leading
to anoxic conditions
fish kills
Attributed to anoxic conditions
and harmful algae as a result of
nutrient enrichment
72
Q

Excess N in estuaries

A
  • Degradation of seagrass and algal beds
  • Formation of nuisance algal mats
  • Coral reef destruction
  • Increased oxygen demand and hypoxia
  • Increased nitrous oxide (greenhouse gas)
73
Q

Eutrophication and coral reefs

A 
• Nutrient enrichment may
lead to ‘coral-algal’ phase
shifts on tropical reefs
• Macroalgae are fastgrowing
species which
typically benefit from
increases in nutrients
• Algae are able to grow
rapidly by acquiring excess
nutrients and may outcompete
corals
74
Q

P cycle differs to the N and C cycles in many

ways:

A
  • one of the slowest biogeochemical cycles
  • Phosphorus not abundant in the atmosphere
  • bacteria do not play a major role
75
Q

P in organisms 4 points

A

P often the ‘ultimately limiting nutrient’ in marine and
freshwater ecosystems
An essential nutrient for plants and animals (PO4
3- and
HPO4
2-
)
Used in photosynthesis (ATP and ADP)
A component of fats, cell membranes, bones and teeth

76
Q

P cycling

A

So slow that except across long time-scales P does not
seem cycle:
Land → Ocean → Seafloor
Substantial losses of P to sediments

77
Q

Phosphorus liberated from rock

A 
as inorganic phosphate (PO4
3-
)
through erosion
Washed into oceans and available
to organisms in this form
78
Q

P cycling

• Cycle is slow overall

A

but available phosphorus is used
by marine organisms rapidly
• Phosphates from decomposing organisms in the ocean
taken up within minutes by plankton

79
Q

The P cycle is slow due to

A

the geological fluxes

80
Q

Sources of oceanic P- at

A

Atmosphere:
• Accounts for < 1% P inputs
• More important offshore away from rivers
• No precise estimates of exact quantities

81
Q

Sources of oceanic P- vol

A

Volcanic processes:
• Eruptions release P4O10 and PO4
• Localized importance only

82
Q

Sinks of oceanic P

Organic matter in sediments:

A

Organic matter in sediments:
• No stable gaseous form of P, thus major sink is the
seafloor
• Reliant upon upwelling and geological uplift to return
to surface waters

83
Q

Sinks of oceanic P

Adsorption to iron particles:

A

• P has complex chemical interactions with iron and
colloidal material in estuaries
• P absorbs to small iron particles in the water column
making it un-available as a nutrient
• As ionic strength increases, P starts to re-dissolve
making it available to organisms

84
Q

Sinks of oceanic P

Hydrothermal vents:

A

• Fluid coming from vents
contains lots of iron
• Binds P and takes it to the
seafloor

85
Q

Redfield ratio

A 
• C:N:P is 106:16:1
for optimal phytoplankton
growth
• Low N/P ratios =
nitrogen limitation
• High N/P ratios =
phosphorus limitation
86
Q

Anthropogenic P inputs

A 
Fish farms introduce much P to
underlying sediments
May have strong impacts upon
infaunal organisms living in
sediments
E.g. 1 g fish tissue produced =
11 mg phosphorus (Xu et al
2007).
87
Q

Summary phosphorus cycle

A

Very slow (~ 50 000 yrs in sediments)
• Sediment a major sink
• Geological processes responsible for fluxes

Marine Science (4 decks)

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