Apes Unit 9: Ocean Warming & Acidification

These flashcards cover key concepts related to ocean warming and acidification, including definitions and explanations of important terms.

Ocean Warming

Increase in ocean temperatures due to the absorption of heat from greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Thermohaline Circulation

Ocean circulation driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes.

Coral Bleaching

The expulsion of symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) from coral reefs due to stress, leading to loss of food source and potential coral death.

Ocean Acidification

The process by which the ocean becomes more acidic due to increased levels of CO2, leading to a reduction in pH levels.

Bicarbonate

A product of carbonic acid dissociation in seawater, crucial for marine organisms to build shells.

Symbiotic Relationship

An interaction between two different organisms living in close physical proximity, often to the advantage of both.

pH Scale

A logarithmic scale used to measure the acidity or basicity of a solution, with lower values indicating more acidic conditions.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and oceanic changes.