Ocean Acidification + Plate movements + Tsunamis

what is the equation for ocean acidification

CO₂+H₂O →H₂CO₃

How does the ocean take in CO₂

Through diffusion (ocean takes in CO₂ like oxygen)

What does more CO₂ in the air mean for oceans

more and more CO₂ will be diffused into the ocean

less carbonate ions

what happens as the ocean becomes more acidic

there are less carbonate ions which are essential for a number of things (EX: shell development, marine organisms, etc.)

Is a small change in pH significant

Ex: 6.1-6.2

Yes because 6-7 means it is 10x more acidic

What are the impacts of ocean acidification

shells degrade + shells can’t build additional mass

what happens as we heat a substance

the solubility of CO₂ gas lowers and goes into the atmosphere

what are the 2 types of plates

Land and oceanic

what is the difference between land and oceanic plates

oceanic plates are more dense because water is heavy

What are the types of plate boundaries

Divergent, convergent, transform

What is divergent plate movement

Def: when two plates are moving away from one another

Called: ridges or rifts

Location: Mid Atlantic ocean (ridge) and Iceland (rift)

what are the 3 types of convergent boundaries

continent-continent, ocean-ocean, continent-ocean

What is continent-continent convergence

two plates collide without any water above them

forms mountains (Himalayas)

no volcanic activity but earthquakes are possible

What is ocean-ocean convergence

two oceanic plates collide, one runs over the other which causes it to sink into the mantle forming a subduction zone

this forms magma due to the heating of the subduction zone

the subducting plate is bent downward to form a very deep depression in the ocean floor called a trench

What is continent-ocean convergence

1. ocean plate subducts under land plate due to density

2. as the ocean plate subducts, it brings water with it

3. the subducting plate heats up as it moves closer to the center of the earth, resulting in the water evaporating from the plate (dehydrating the plate)

4. the evaporating water(steam) melts the plate above it

5. the magma ploom increases in volume, increasing pressure until it is released as a volcanic eruption

Location: andes mountains

What is transform

where plates slide past each other

(move side to side sliding past each other)

Location: San Andreas fault line

What are causes of Tsunamis

underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption underwater, mud landslides

what happens during a tsunami

there is a vertical displacement of water then the wave continues to gain energy and height

(Tsunamis only start at 3ft tall)