SG 20: Ocean Acidification Flashcards
carbon sink
Ocean absorbs CO2 from atmosphere
Physical and biological processes move some of the carbon to deep
ocean where it is stored
Capture known as carbon sequestration
carbon sequestration
captures and stores carbon
How much CO2 can the ocean asorb
- how much can asorb depends on temp and salinity
- increase in temp, can hold less
- the colder the water, more CO2 it holds
Salinity
the measure of dissolved content with water
Carbon Dioxide in the Ocean
- forms carbonic acid
- some of the excess hydrogen ions combine with carbonite, decreasing it
Carbonic acid
- formed when carbon dioxide s dissolved in water forming into biocarbonate and hydrogen ions
calcium carbonate
the material that composes the shells and exoskeletons of marine organisms ( remember corals )
pH
- measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in water
- if hydrogen concentration increases, ph of saltwater will decrease
pH scale
the lower the pH, the more H
CO2 in the ocean
- transportation and industry releases CO2 emissions and is asorbed by ocean
Ocean pH levels
- ocean pH levels are decreasing, but CO2 is rising
How is marine life affected
coral reef ecosystems may not be as strong and weaken ue to the change in pH
Coral reefs
As the ocean becomes more acidic their is less calcium carbonate to make exoskeletons affecting the cora
Food Web
When the animals on the bottom of the food chain from carbon dioxide, the animals at the top of the food chain do not get enough food and die off.
Oysters, Mussels, Urchins And Starfish
Have trouble building their shells in more acidic waters like coral
