All Flashcards
Define Ocean Acidification.
Ongoing decrease in ocean pH, caused by CO2 uptake from the atmosphere.
Define Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3).
A crucial building block for shells and skeletons of many marine organisms.
Define pH.
A measure of how acidic/basic water is. The range goes from 0 - 14, with 7 being neutral. pHs of less than 7 indicate acidity, whereas a pH of greater than 7 indicates a base.
Define Pteropods.
Tiny sea snails that are a major food source for many marine animals.
Define Carbonic Acid.
The acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water (H2CO3).
Define Hydrogen Ions.
Positively charged ions (H+) that increase the acidity of a solution.
Define Eutrophication.
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
Define Hypoxic.
Low oxygen conditions.
Describe the chemical process of ocean acidification.
CO2 dissolves in seawater, forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which releases hydrogen ions (H+), lowering pH.
Define ocean acidification.
Ongoing decrease in ocean pH due to CO2 absorption from the atmosphere.
Define calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
A crucial building block for shells and skeletons of many marine organisms.
Define pH.
A measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
Define carbonic acid.
Acid formed when CO2 dissolves in water (H2CO3).
Define pteropods.
Tiny sea snails that are a major food source in marine ecosystems.
Define eutrophication.
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
Define hypoxic environment.
An aquatic environment with low oxygen levels.