The ocean: a large expanse of salt water that covers two-thirds of our earth’s surface. It is involved in many biospheric processes and the home to many known and unknown organisms. The first few meters of the ocean are an important site for primary production — the conversion of carbon dioxide from a gas into organic carbon. Carbon dioxide plays an important role in determining the pH of ocean water. Over the last hundred years the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have increased, leading to changes in the chemistry of the ocean. As time progresses it is becoming more acidic. National Geographic has done research on this event and the possible effects the ocean’s increasing acidity will have. Their article entitled Ocean Acidification:
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One of the total effects of carbon dioxide dissolving in the ocean is a raise in the overall number of hydrogen ions, H+, in it.8 If a solution is more acidic, it means it has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions and a low pH. This is the outcome of the first reaction that happens between the ocean water and the carbon dioxide that forms the carbonic acid.8 The carbonic acid releases hydrogen ions that form other kinds of dissolved inorganic carbon. This means that the pH of oceans is heavily affected by the amount of CO2 that gets dissolved in the …show more content…
They way they respond to the changes could lead to huge shifts in marine ecosystems.6 Organisms still in the early stages of their life are going to be more vulnerable to the changes in acidity than those in the adult stage. They are more sensitive to environmental conditions in these younger stages.6 Some organisms start calcifying during these phases, so they are going to have to rely on another form During these phases of calcification, they will have to use a more soluble form of calcium carbonate than the one that is used in as an adult.6 Some of the animals have a slow development during their initial stage. There is even a high death rate because of the exposure to the acidified
One of the total effects of carbon dioxide dissolving in the ocean is a raise in the overall number of hydrogen ions, H+, in it.8 If a solution is more acidic, it means it has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions and a low pH. This is the outcome of the first reaction that happens between the ocean water and the carbon dioxide that forms the carbonic acid.8 The carbonic acid releases hydrogen ions that form other kinds of dissolved inorganic carbon. This means that the pH of oceans is heavily affected by the amount of CO2 that gets dissolved in the …show more content…
They way they respond to the changes could lead to huge shifts in marine ecosystems.6 Organisms still in the early stages of their life are going to be more vulnerable to the changes in acidity than those in the adult stage. They are more sensitive to environmental conditions in these younger stages.6 Some organisms start calcifying during these phases, so they are going to have to rely on another form During these phases of calcification, they will have to use a more soluble form of calcium carbonate than the one that is used in as an adult.6 Some of the animals have a slow development during their initial stage. There is even a high death rate because of the exposure to the acidified