All Flashcards
Describe the chemical process of ocean acidification.
CO2 dissolves in seawater, forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which releases hydrogen ions (H+), lowering pH.
What is the chemical process of ocean acidification?
CO2 dissolves in seawater, forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which releases hydrogen ions (H+), lowering the 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.