Download Putting It Together - NSTA Learning Center

OA is the consequence of rising anthropogenic
emissions of CO2 since 1750, and the uptake
of 30-40% of that carbon by the ocean This
process is driven by CO2
 Process of ocean water becoming less basic
(but not acidic)
 CO2 affects both climate change and
acidification, but via different mechanisms
 CO2 in the atmosphere: it warms it
 CO2 in the ocean: it acidifies it
2
≈ 48% of anthropogenic
CO2 taken up by the ocean
CO2
Sabine et al. Science (2004)
CO2
(photosynthesis
& respiration)
H2CO3 Carbonic
CO2 + H2O
pH
acid
H+
Hydrogen
ion
H+
Hydrogen
ion
HCO3Bicarbonate ion
+ CO32Carbonate
ion
+ = CaCO
X
X
3 =
Ca
2+
pH
NOAA CMDL CCGG CO2
data at Mauna Loa, HI
4
5
Invention: Students will design an
investigation into ocean acidification using
real data on conditions in the Caribbean
study area.
4 Interactivity: Students will use online data to
support or disprove a simple hypothesis about
increased atmospheric CO2 and the health of marine
calcifieres, such as coral reefs.
3 Adaptation: Students will use online tools to recreate
climate change model scenarios and examine effects of
increased CO2 on ocean acidity and carbonate saturation
levels.
Adoption: Students will use data graphs of ocean pH, sea-surface
temperature, and CO2 data to find the driving factor behind ocean
acidification.
Levels of
scaled
interaction
2
1
5
Entry: Students will examine data maps and graphs to look for patterns and
relationships that would explain variations in ocean pH.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Measuring Ocean pH
The Ocean-Carbon Connection
Carbonate Buffering System
Aragonite Saturation & Marine Calcifiers
Design Your Own Investigation

Adaptation: Students use online tools to
recreate climate change model scenarios
and examine effects of increased CO2 on
ocean acidity and carbonate saturation
levels.

Interactivity: Students use online data to
support or disprove a simple hypothesis
about increased atmospheric CO2 and the
health of marine calcifieres, such as coral
reefs.



How does dissolved CO2 relate
to levels of atmospheric CO2?
Describe the pattern of change
in aragonite concentration (Ω) in
the study area over time.
If you assume a steady rate of
aragonite saturation decrease
over time, when will coral reefs
reach the critical 3.3 Ω level?


Friday 8AM-9AM: NOAA Data Education
Project
Saturday 3:30PM-4:30: Corals, Tech, and
Carbon (bleaching and OA)
[email protected]