OCN102_HW4_Au21
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School
University of Washington *
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Course
102
Subject
Geography
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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4
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OCN 102
Module 4 Homework Assignment #4: Reading and interpreting ocean acidification data
Goals:
●
To give students practice reading and interpreting data from figures (graphs and maps)
●
To give students practice evaluating the scientific accuracy of information in the literature
Procedure:
●
Read NOAA's "State of the Science FACT SHEET”. ●
Based on what you learned in lecture and the FACT SHEET, answer the following questions.
Note that aragonite is the scientific term for the primary form of carbonate ions (CaCO
3
-2
) in the ocean.
Questions:
1)
(2 pts.) What is the primary cause of global ocean acidification?
The increase in rising levels of carbon dioxide being absorbed by the ocean and Great Lakes surface waters is the primary cause of global ocean acidification.
The figure below from the NOAA State of the Science FACT SHEET on ocean acidification shows carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and sea surface (top)
and pH and concentration of carbonate ion in the sea surface (bottom) over time. Refer to
the figure to answer the following two questions.
2)
(3 pts.) Explain the relationship between seawater CO
2
concentration and seawater pH. Why does pH decrease as CO
2
concentrations increase?
CO2 concentration in seawater impacts the sea waters pH. When CO2 concentration increases, it acidifies the seawater more, which then lowers the pH since the water becomes more acidic than before.
3)
(1 pt.) Does the carbonate concentration increase
or decrease
as seawater pH decreases? Type increase or decrease into the text box provided.
Decrease
4)
(1 pt.) Why is calcium carbonate (CaCO
3
-2
, AKA aragonite) important?
Multiple choice question, possible answers:
Molting organisms, like crabs, use it to regulate their pH as they molt
Fish use it in their gills to increase the amount of oxygen they get from seawater
Calcifying organisms, like corals and oysters, use it to make shells and exoskeletons
Silicate organisms like diatoms use it to make shells
5)
(2 pts.) Explain the relationship between seawater pH and the concentration of calcium carbonate (or aragonite). Why does the concentration of calcium carbonate decrease as pH decreases?
Both the concentration of calcium carbonate and pH decreases as CO2 increases. The more acidic the pH, the less calcium carbonate will be available since it’s dependent on a more specific pH to be able to form.
The figure below from the NOAA State of the Science FACT SHEET on ocean acidification shows the projected decline in aragonite saturation state. Refer to the figure to answer the following questions.
6)
(1 pt.) In which geographic location or area of the ocean is aragonite saturation expected to decrease the most by the end of the century?
Multiple choice questions, possible choices:
Southern Ocean
Sub-polar gyres
Arctic Ocean
Tropics and Subtropics
7)
(3 pts.) Describe the impact that the change in aragonite saturation will have on the marine food web in the geographic location you selected for the question above.
The change in aragonite saturation will impact the tropics and subtropics where coral reefs are housed. The decline in this saturation decreases the availability of carbon ions which are important for carbon mineral formation.
This will alter the formation of coral reefs, shells, mineral sediments, etc. With those alterations, the marine food web will change negatively since this saturation will pose adverse health, growth, and reproduction effects for marine life.
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8)
(2 pts.) List two way(s) ocean acidification could impact the economy of the geographic location you selected above.
One way OA could impact the economy of the geographic area I selected are declined revenue values along with job losses dependent on marine life/location. Another impact may be food insecurity on coastal/tropical areas where a main source of food comes from the ocean, which would be additionally threatened by warming seas and pollution.