Describe how carbon dioxide acts as a buffer in seawater


The proportion of carbon dioxide gas in the ocean is greater than that in the atmosphere; however CO2 still readily dissolves into seawater because it reacts with H2O to change chemical forms. In the ocean, CO2 combines chemically with water to form carbonic acid, (H2 CO3), which can further break down into bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO32-). While carbonic acid will lower pH (more acidic), formation of bicarbonate and carbonate increase pH (more alkaline). These chemical changes help to balance pH and hence act as a buffer. This chemical equilibrium is important for marine organisms because the carbonate ions are an important component of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the compound that forms the skeletal material of many marine organisms (sponges, corals, snails, sea stars, etc.). An increase in CO2 ultimately reduces the amount of carbonate available to organisms for building their skeleton, another threat to their survival.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Climate regions are separated on the Köppen climate classification map as an abrupt line. In reality, these are really ____________________

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences