Ocean Acidification

What measures Acidification?

the pH scale

What are some species at risk because of ocean acidification?

• Coral polyps

• Olympia oyster

• pteropod

What has happened to the ocean’s acidity and carbon dioxide over the years?

• the CO2 in the atmosphere has risen, so has the CO2 in the ocean

• the acidity has also increasec (pH has decreased)

What happens to animals with calcium based shells when the acidity of the ocean increases?

• their shells dissolve over time, and it becomes harder for them to rebuild them

What is the average ocean pH?

8.1

the pH scale is logarithmic, what does that mean?

What happens to the gases between the atmosphere and the ocean?

• they are exchanged

• the currents pull gasses deeper into the ocean

Describe the pH scale

• goes from 0-14

• 0-6 is acidic

• 7 is neutral

• 8-14 is basic

• each number is 10 times more acidic or basic than the last

30-50% of CO₂ released by burning coal, oil and gas doesn't stay in the air, but instead dissolves into the ocean.

Good? Bad?

• good because it is slowing global warming/climate change

• bad because it affects the marine animals and makes the ocean more acidic

What happens when CO2 is dissolved in water?

• it forms carbonic acid which eats away at calcium-based materials

• interferes with chemical reactions which new ones are made (less available carbonate ions)