ocean acidification

Question 1

what are the sources of carbon emissions?

Answer 1

Sources of carbon emissions- the main component of this is solids and liquids.

Question 2

what are atmospheric CO2 measurements?

Answer 2

Atmospheric CO2 measurements- there are 100 sites which is measured, with seasonal cycles and latitudinal gradients. There is a difference between hemispheres.

Question 3

where are CO2 measurements taken?

Answer 3

• The recent monthly mean CO2 at Mauna Loa in Hawaii showed fluctuations throughout the years, but a gradual and very steep upwards trend of parts per million.

Question 4

why do we need to be aware of the changes?

Answer 4

• Humans are changing atmospheric composition and climate.

Question 5

why are carbon emissions affecting the ocean?

Answer 5

• Atmospheric gases, including CO2, enter seawater and also contaminate that.

Question 6

where does the CO2 go?

Answer 6

• Not all CO2 emitted to the atmosphere stays there. The initial assumption is that it is all emitted CO2 either stays in the atmosphere or else enters the ocean. In the 1970’s, it became apparent that this wasn’t true- more was leaving the atmosphere than was entering the ocean.

Question 7

what percentage of CO2 emissions goes into the atmosphere and land and oceans?

Answer 7

• Fate of anthropogenic CO2 emissions: 50 % goes into the atmosphere, 25% goes into the land, 25% goes into the oceans.

Question 8

what is ocean acidification?

Answer 8

Ocean acidification: global warmings evil twin. CO2 emitted to the atmosphere, this adds to the greenhouse effect and causes global warming. Also, the CO2 transfer to the ocean and this causes ocean acidification.

Question 9

what are time series measurements?

Answer 9

• Time-series measurements: BATS and HOTs (Bermuda Atlantic time series and Hawaii ocean time-series) both recorded the mixed layer of dissolved inorganic carbon in seawater.

Question 10

what deos BATS stand for?

Answer 10

Bermuda Atlantic time series

Question 11

what does HOTs stand for?

Answer 11

Hawaii ocean time-series

Question 12

how does CO2 react to form carbonic acid?

Answer 12

• CO2 influx is altering carbon chemistry. The atmospheric CO2 dissolves into the ocean and creates carbonic acid with the water. This creates bicarbonate ions due to the break down of H ions, and causes carbonate ions to be loose in the sea.

Question 13

how has the pH lowered?

Answer 13

• Influx of CO2 lowers pH. The pH has lowered from -0.1 to -0.7

Question 14

what is the trend between CO2 and pH?

Answer 14

• Acidification measured at a time-series site.

* As the CO2 increases, the pH decreases.

Question 15

what are the anthropogenic changes to the pH?

Answer 15

• Acidification detected in a repeat survey. Estimate of anthropogenic change to seawater pH over 15 years, from comparing 2 measurements on 2 cruise ships along the same route, the first in 1991 and 2006.

Question 16

what was the pH of the seawater before it changed?

Answer 16

• Seawater used to be roughly 8.4 pH. Its going down to 7. nearer pure water. Therefore, getting more acidic.

Question 17

how does the pH change cause a distribution of DIC?

Answer 17

• This then causes a distribution of DIC among different carbon chemical species. Bicarbonate is a lot more than carbonate and dissolved carbon dioxide in the water.

Question 18

how have bicarbonate ions changed?

Answer 18

Surface ocean affects of continued emissions- pH and bicarbonate ions have decreased, and CO2 levels dissolved have increased dramatically.

Question 19

how have carbonate ions changed?

Answer 19

Invading CO2 is reducing carbonate ion concentration. pH reduced by 0.3 to 0.4 by 2100. carbonate ions reduced by up tp 50%

Question 20

why do we care about the carbonate ion?

Answer 20

Why do we care about the carbonate ion? Calcium carbonate saturation is tied to CO3^2-. Dissolution and under saturation. Super-saturation- causes precipitation.

Question 21

what is the predictions of year 2100?

Answer 21

• Summary of year 2100 changes (high emissions) in surface waters: tripling of seawater CO2 concentrations, halving seawater CO3 concentrations. 0.4 units pH decrease, +150% hydrogen ion concentration, and calcium carbonate under saturation in polar oceans.

Question 22

what are important calcifiers?

Answer 22

• Important calcifiers include: coral reefs, coralline algae, foraminifera, pteropods, and coccolithophores.

Question 23

how are coral reef biomere a calcifier?

Answer 23

• Coral reef biome in Biosphere 2- increase in net community calcification rate.

Question 24

how are corals a calcifier?

Answer 24

• Data shows the summary of effects on forams and corals : increase in shell weight.

Question 25

how are naked coral polyps a calcifier?

Answer 25

• Naked coral polyps at low pH- the regrow surrounding coral when pH is restored.

Question 26

how are pteropods a calcifier?

Answer 26

Pteropod shell dissolution at high CO2. new studies show the saturation rate (W) increasing.

Question 27

how are coccoliths a calcifier?

Answer 27

• Malformed coccoliths at high CO2 lose their shape more. Not all species respond similarly.
  
  • Larger coccoliths at high CO2- increased size, increase of mean coccolith volume.

Question 28

what is FOCEs?

Answer 28

• FOCE: Free ocean CO2 enrichment. Experimental technique, carried out in-situ, exposure of organisms to elevate CO2 and lower pH. Otherwise natural conditions.

Question 29

what does FOCEs stand for?

Answer 29

Free ocean CO2 enrichment

Question 30

what is the summary of ocean acidification?

Answer 30

fossil fuel CO2 is entering the ocean. It is altering seawater pH. It is making the seater more corrosive to calcium carbonate, and some (but not all) calcifiers will be affected.

Question 31

when did carbon emissions increase?

Answer 31

Increased dramatically since the 1850’s. Atmospheric CO3 in the last 50 years has increased from 320 parts per million to 380 parts per million. In : only 50 years