Part II: Ocean Acidification Answer the following questions about ocean acidific
ID: 118604 • Letter: P
Question
Part II: Ocean Acidification Answer the following questions about ocean acidification. CO, Time Series in the North Pacific 400 8.40 Mauna Loa Atmospheric CO, (ppm) Aloha seawater pCO, insitu (uatm) Aloha seawater ph insitu 8.35 375 8.30 8.25 8.20 8.15 350 325 8.10 300 NOAAs PMEL Carbon Program (www.pmel.noaa go oo2) ohda cous of JE. Doe et al 2009 Physical and bioseochensiel moduletios of 275 einerisn in the ceNoth ifs N AdA 2-240 8.00 1958 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 2000 2006 2012 Year (3 points) Describe the overall trends of atmospheric CO2, partial pressure of 1. CO2 (pCO2) in the ocean, and ocean pH in the North Pacific. 2. (2 points) At its current pH, is the ocean acidic or basic? 3. (2 points) What is the dominant species in the carbonate equilibrium at this pH? 4. (2 points) As pH decreases with ocean acidification, what happens to the available carbonate (CO32) in the ocean? 5. (4 points) Provide two examples of species that will be more vulnerable with ocean acidification, and why or how soExplanation / Answer
1. The pH is decreasing with the passage of time but the CO2 present in the atmosphere and partial pressure of CO2 is increasing with time from 1958 onwards.
2. The current pH is 8.07 which is basic in nature.
3. Mussels, sea urchins, barnacles, and certain microscopic plankton are dominant species in the carbonate equilibrium at this pH.
4. With the decrease in pH, the ocean is becoming more and more acidic thus desolving the carbonate present in the ocean. This takes place as acid have high hrdrogen ion concentration as compared to bases, now this hydrogen ion reacts with negatively charged carbonate ion to form mild carbonic acid.
5. Coral, clams, mussels, sea urchins rely on equilibrated chemical conditions and pH levels in the ocean to build their calcium-based shells and other structures and hence due to ocean acidification they are worstly effected.