9.6 Ocean Warming and Acidification - Tsehay and Aaron

Atmospheric Warming and Ocean Warming

As the atmosphere warms, heat radiated back to earth by greenhouse gases is transferred to the ocean. Since water has a high specific heat, the ocean is responsible for absorbing much of Earth's heat

Effects of Global Warming on Marine Species

Since warm water holds less oxygen than cold water, warming oceans can cause respiration issues and suffocation on marine species.

Migratory routes and mating seasons altered by temperature changes

Habitat Loss due to coral bleaching, corals becoming more deeper in water due to ice melting leading to ocean level rise

Toxic blue-green algae thrive in warmer waters and can disrupt ocean ecosystems and kill marine species/lead to hypoxia

Coral Bleaching

Rising ocean temperatures puts zooxanthellae out of range of tolerance and forces algae out of reef. Without the algae, the corals lose color and lose food source. Coral bleaching leads to loss of habitat for hundreds of species in the coral reef.

Ocean Acidification

Increased CO2 in atmosphere leads to increased ocean CO2 in ocean through gas exchange. Co2 combines with ocean water to form carbonic acid H2CO3. The Carbonic acid dissociates into Bicarbonate ion HCO3- and a H+ ion, leading to more acidic water. This is problematic for organisms that make shells with calcium and carbonate ions since ocean acidification makes carbonate ions as the H+ ions pull them.

Causes for ocean acidification: Fossil Fuel Combustion, deforestation, coal/gas combustion

Inv Relationship between CO2 and ocean pH