Ocean Acidification - H.Chem. Project

"is this true?"

Currently each year the ocean absorbs approximately 25% of all Carbon Dioxide emitted by human activity

Acid - a compund that produces hydrogen ions in a solution

Base - a compound that produces hydroxide ions in a solution

Acid/Base

Buffers

A buffer is a solution in which the pH remains relatively constant when small amounts of acid or base are added; a buffer can be either a solution of a weak acid and the salt of a weak acid or a solution of a weak base with the salt of a weak base. A buffer solution contains one component thatcan react with hydrogen ion (a hydrogen ion doner). These components act as reserviors of neutralizing power that can be tapped when hydrogen ions or hydroxide ions are added to the solution.

Equilibrium constant the relative concentations of reactants and products of a reaction that has reached equilibrium; indicates whether the reactants or products are favored in the reversible reaction

Equilibrium

Le Chateliers Principle

Le Chateliers

When a stress is applied to a system in dynamic equilibrium the system changes in a way that relieves the stress. Stresses that upset the equilibrium of a chemical system include changes in concentration of reactants or products, changes in temperature and pressure

Natural Processes of Carbon Dioxide

The Earths oceans, soil, plants, animals and volcanoes are all natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions. The amount of carbon dioxide produced by natural sources is completely offset by natural carbon sinks and has been for thousands of years. Before the influence of humans, carbon dioxide levels were quite steady because of this natural balance.

Human Proccess of Carbon Dioxide

Human activities such as the burning of oil, coal and gas, as well as deforestation are the primary cause of the increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.

How does the sea buffer system work?

The carbonate system – in an aqueous solution, carbonate, bicarbonate, carbon dioxide, and carbonic acid exist together in a dynamic equilibrium

Enviornmental Impacts

• The acidic water from the additional Carbon Dioxide can dissolve shells of the marine organisms and also make it harder for shells to grow in the first place
• A small change in the pH of seawater can have harmful effects on marine life, impacting chemical communication, reproduction, and growth
• Coral reefs protect coasts from storm damage and erosion, supply sediments to form beaches.

• Economists predict that unchecked acidification could decrease shellfish harvests and increase consumer prices
• Fisheries and aquaculture are important source of income and food
• Today, more than a billion people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as their primary source of proteinoffsite link. Approximately 20% of the world’s population derives at least 1/5 of its animal protein intake from fish. Many jobs and economies in the U.S. and around the world depend on the fish and shellfish that live in the ocean.

Economic Impacts

#1

As the CO2 dissolves in the seawater, the pH of the water gets lower as it becomes more acidic

The Ocean Acidification process binds up carbonate ions and makes them less abundant- ions that corals, oysters, mussels, and many other shelled organisms need to build shells and skeletons

#2

How can we help to reduce the negative impacts of ocean acidification?

Reduce your Carbon Foot Print!

• Eat less meat
• Use less energy at home
• Reduce your plastic addiction
• Drive and fly less, carpool, ride bikes and take public transit
• Reduce, reuse, recycle and refuse

Use alternative water sources, such as the use of boreholes, wells or tapped rain water instead of ocean water domestically, This can help minimize possible ocean water pollution

Sources-

• http://www.egcsa.com/technical-reference/how-does-seawater-buffer-or-neutralize-acids-created-by-scrubbing/
• “Causes, Effects and Solutions of Ocean Acidification.” Conserve Energy Future, 25 Dec. 2016, www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-ocean-acidification.php.
• “Ocean Acidification Solutions.” Revolution, therevolutionmovie.com/index.php/open-your-eyes/ocean-acidification/solutions/.
• “Ocean Acidification - Facts and Figures.” IUCN, 19 May 2016, www.iucn.org/content/ocean-acidification-facts-and-figures.
• Brennan, John. “What Is Carbonate Buffering?” Sciencing, 23 May 2018, sciencing.com/carbonate-buffering-8299150.html.
• Waters, Hannah. “Ocean Acidification.” Ocean Portal Smithsonian, Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, 28 Feb. 2018, ocean.si.edu/ocean-acidification.