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.
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Which of the following conditions is necessary for a layer of altostratus clouds to change into alt°Cumulus?
A. The cloud layer becomes more stable. B. The top part of the cloud deck cools while the bottom part warms. C. The cloud layer mixes. D. Temperature increases with increasing altitude in the layer.
Examine the photograph above. What type of depositional feature is shown?
A) cross bedding B) alluvial fan C) esker D) drumlin
Barchans:
a. grow by the process of deflation. b. are the only kind of silt. c. are the only kind of gravel dune. d. migrate. e. form where there are multiple sand-transporting wind directions.
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