9.7 ocean acidification

Ocean acidification

Increases CO2 in atm → increased ocean CO2

-CO2 combined with ocean water to form carbonic acid

-carbonic acid dissociates into bicarbonate and H+ ion

Calcium carbonate & marine organisms

Marine organisms that make shells use calcium & carbonate ions to build calcium carbonate shells (calcification)

-CO2 increases & ocean acidification make → carbonate ions less available

-carbonic acid → increased H+ ions → bonds w carbonate → bicarbonate

Marine shells breakdown as pH decreases & carbonate ions are less soluble in ocean water

Fewer carbonate ions → less calcification; weaker shells of coral, mollusks, urchins

Climate change & ocean acidification (anthropogenic activities that cause → acid.)

Anthropogenic causes for ocean acidification: fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, coal/ gas combustion

-CO2 increases directly correlated with ocean acidification

-inverse relationship with atm CO2 & ocean pH (low pH → more acidic)

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