Lesson 12 - Ocean Acidification

Question 1

What is ocean acidification?

Answer 1

Decrease in pH of Earth’s oceans as consequence of atmospheric CO2 uptake

Question 2

How does ocean acidification take place?

Answer 2

Ocean absorbs atmospheric CO2
CO2 breaks down
Forms carbonic acid + hydrogen ions

Question 3

How do hydrogen ions behave?

Answer 3

Bond with carbonate ions
Reduces concentration
Reduces availability for marine life

Question 4

Why are carbonate ions important?

Answer 4

Required by marine life to build + sustain shells + skeletons

Question 5

How has ocean pH changed in accordance with human activity?

Answer 5

30% drop
8.2 - 8.1

Question 6

What are the general causes of ocean acidification?

Answer 6

Atmospheric CO2
Industrial pollution
Ocean warming

Question 7

What are the potential impacts of ocean acidification?

Answer 7

Thinness + fragility of shells
Net wildlife loss
Reef degredation

Question 8

At what pH can ocean reefs no longer survive?

Answer 8

7.8

Question 9

What are the implications for coral reefs?

Answer 9

Reef building function may collapse
Bleaching
Degredation
Death

Question 10

What are the implications to marine creatures?

Answer 10

Weak shells
Vulnerable to pests + bio-erosion