Question
What happens when carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in seawater
Answers
GPT 3.5
When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water molecules to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This reaction decreases the pH of the seawater, making it more acidic. This process is known as ocean acidification.
Ocean acidification can have negative impacts on marine organisms, particularly those that rely on calcium carbonate to build shells and skeletons, such as coral reefs, shellfish, and some species of plankton. The increased acidity can make it more difficult for these organisms to build and maintain their calcium carbonate structures, which can have cascading effects on entire marine ecosystems.
Additionally, ocean acidification can also affect the behavior and physiology of marine organisms, potentially altering their growth, reproduction, and survival rates. Overall, the dissolution of carbon dioxide in seawater can have wide-ranging implications for marine ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them.
Ocean acidification can have negative impacts on marine organisms, particularly those that rely on calcium carbonate to build shells and skeletons, such as coral reefs, shellfish, and some species of plankton. The increased acidity can make it more difficult for these organisms to build and maintain their calcium carbonate structures, which can have cascading effects on entire marine ecosystems.
Additionally, ocean acidification can also affect the behavior and physiology of marine organisms, potentially altering their growth, reproduction, and survival rates. Overall, the dissolution of carbon dioxide in seawater can have wide-ranging implications for marine ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them.