PLEASE USE YOUR OWN WORDS to answer these questions httpwwww

PLEASE USE YOUR OWN WORDS to answer these questions!

http://www.whoi.edu/main/topic/ocean-acidification (This is the article)

(1) What is the relationship between global warming and ocean acidification?

(2) What happens to ocean waters as the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ rises? Be specific in your response. Hint: For additional help, click on Carbon Dioxide in Seawater along the webpage’s sidebar.

(3) What marine organisms do you anticipate will be most greatly impacted by ocean acidification? Why?

(4) Scientists have found evidence of a massive release of CO₂ in the past (Palocene-Eocene boundary, 55 million ya) that is in some ways analogous to what is occurring today. Some marine species acclimated – some adapted – and some became extinct. Based upon the differences between that earlier event and what is occurring today, what would you anticipate would be the effect on marine fauna if CO₂ levels continue to rise at current rates for the next fifty years?

USE YOUR OWN WORDS!

Solution

1. Both global warming and ocean acidification are connected by increasing levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. With the advent of industrialization and increasing dependence on fossil fuels, the carbon dioxide emissions have also increased significantly, with their level in the atmosphere approaching 400ppm. CO₂ contributes to global warming by trapping in the infrared radiation from the sun by preventing its reflection from the earth\'s surface. Therefore, the increased radiation levels in the atmosphere gradually contribute to increased temperature. Increasing CO₂ levels also means that the gas mixes with oceanic water to form carbonic acid, thereby making the oceans acidic.

2. Because of dissolved alkali ions in ocean water, the pH of oceans have been around 8.20. However, with increased amount of carbon dioxide getting absorbed by the oceans, their pH have been gradually reducing. The pH of oceans in he present world is 8.10 on average, which is quite significant considering the magnitude of oceans.This can have disastrous effects on the ocean flora and fauna.

3. Since carbonic acid can dissolve calcium carbonate, the organims which have CaCO₃ in their protective shells and skeletons would be the most affected. This includes orals, oysters, clams, mussels, snails, and phytoplankton and zooplankton, the tiny plants and animals that form the base of the marine food web.

4. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), due to the increased emission levels of carbon dioxide, one can expect a spike in atmospheric gas levels to over 800ppm by the end of the century. This bodes extremely bad in terms of global climate change and water acidification. It is predicted that by the end of the centure, the pH of water would decrease by 0.3 -0.4 units. This means that the brunt of acidified and corrosive water would be borne by shells and skeletons of aragonite-producing marine calcifiers like planktonic marine snails known as pteropods. Unless acted upon, the bio-geo-chemical cycles would be under potential threat, which will have a spill-over effects on the human society.