What is the general behavior of pH in seawater? What affect can pH levels at various depths?
· Seawater has an average pH of 8.0. In areas consistent with this pH, the dominate carbon dioxide based ion is bicarbonate. Carbonic acid dominates at lower pH levels. Carbonate ions are common at high pH.
· The pH level at the surface can be heavily impacted by warm, productive waters. Areas that have rapid rates of photosynthesis occurring have higher pH levels around 8.5. This is because the plants are using the carbon dioxide present in the water very quickly. These areas have higher levels of carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and carbonate.
· Middles depths have higher levels of carbon dioxide. This is the result of animal respiration and the subsequent decay of those animals' remains. The higher levels of carbon dioxide makes the water more acidic.
· The deep ocean can drop to a pH of 7.0 because bacteria consume oxygen and produce hydrogen sulfide.
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