16.1 - Ocean pH Levels

what is salinity?

amount of dissolved salts in water

what is total alkalinity?

sum of excess ions that can absorb hydrogen ions

most ions in sea to absorb hydrogen ions are…

hydrogen carbonate, carbonate, sulfate, hydroxide, phosphates

what does alkalnity in the ocean do?

buffers ocean from acidification

what is basacity?

measure of how high pH is

what is difference between total alkalinity and basicity?

total alkalinity is not measure of pH

roughly ___% of carbon dioxide released by humans gone into the ocean

30

what is formed by carbon dioxide and water?

carbonic acid

what does carbonic acid ionize into?

hydrogen ion and hydrogen carbonate ion

warmer/colder water and more/less saline water have lower pH

warmer, less

what is the effect of fertilizers on ocean pH?

algal blooms increase carbon dioxide and lower pH

_____ and ____ affect _______ and _____

latitude, ocean currents, water temperature, salinity

_____ and ____ oceans, where ___ ____ grow have fairly stable pH levels

tropical, temperature, coral, reefs

what ocean basin is the most acidic ocean basin?

Indian Ocean

in polar regions, pH levels rise/fall during summertime and rise/fall during wintertime

rise, fall

ocean pH generally ____ with increasing depth

decreases

why do coastal region surface water have lower pH?

deep ocean currents are diverted upwards

what carries salt to the ocean?

rivers

ocean salinity is higher in regions with ____ _____ rates

high, evaporation

why do tropical regions have lower salinity than the dry latitudes?

there is both high evaporation and precipitation rates

regions of _____ _____ have lower alkalinity

freshwater inflow