Rising CO2 levels can impact our environment in a number of different and many times unanticipated ways. Last week we considered the effect of increased atmospheric CO2 levels on leaf stomatal densities. This week we will explore the effect of increased CO2 levels on ocean waters. Read the article posted on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutionâs website entitled Ocean Acidification and answer the questions that follow.
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 webpageâs 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 â some adapted â 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 CO2levels continue to rise at current rates for the next fifty years?
Here is the link for the article: http://www.whoi.edu/main/topic/ocean-acidification
Rising CO2 levels can impact our environment in a number of different and many times unanticipated ways. Last week we considered the effect of increased atmospheric CO2 levels on leaf stomatal densities. This week we will explore the effect of increased CO2 levels on ocean waters. Read the article posted on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutionâs website entitled Ocean Acidification and answer the questions that follow.
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 webpageâs 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 â some adapted â 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 CO2levels continue to rise at current rates for the next fifty years?
Here is the link for the article: http://www.whoi.edu/main/topic/ocean-acidification
