Ocean Acidification

Multiple Select

Based on the pH scale, which of the following statements is correct?

• A solution with a pH of 5 is considered a base.

• Pure water is more acidic than ocean water.

• Ocean water is slightly alkaline.

• A solution with a pH of 7 is considered an acid.

Open Ended

Why is it important to understand the pH scale when studying ocean acidification?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes acidification?

• The process of a liquid becoming more alkaline

• The process of a liquid becoming more acidic

• The process of a liquid maintaining a neutral pH

• The process of a liquid evaporating

Drag and Drop

The process of the ocean becoming more acidic is:

-oceans absorb ​

Placeholder

from the atmosphere.

-Carbon dioxide then combines with water to form ​

Placeholder

.

-​

Placeholder

is formed because carbonic acid ​

Placeholder

carbonate and hydrogen ions are released, ​

Placeholder

the pH of the ocean water.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Carbon dioxide

Carbonic acid

Bicarbonate

steals

lowering

adds

Carbohydrate

Carbon Monoxide

raising

Fill in the Blanks

A decrease in available carbonate makes it difficult for marine life to build

and exoskeletons.

Multiple Choice

Which organisms are most affected by a decrease in available carbonate in the ocean?

• Fish and sharks

• Coral, mollusks, and sea urchins

• Seagulls and crabs

• Plankton and algae

Open Ended

What is a trophic cascade?

Multiple Select

What are the other impacts of acidification that we don't yet fully understand?

• Organisms' ability to send chemical signals

• Lowering the blood pH of fish

• Changes in reproductive ability

• Global warming

Fill in the Blanks

Ocean water currently has a pH of

, and is projected to lower to 7.7 by the year 2100.

Fill in the Blanks

How do scientists determine what pH levels were in the past? Scientists analyze _____ _____.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following changes did scientists observe in ocean sediment around 55.8 million years ago?

• The sediment changed from white calcium carbonate 'chalk' to red-brown mud.

• The sediment became more alkaline.

• The sediment showed increased fossil diversity.

• The sediment turned into pure sand.

Multiple Select

Select all the measurements that scientists can take in lab experiments to study the effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms.

• Organism behavior

• Energy use

• Immune response

• Salinity levels

Open Ended

What are some ways scientists can predict how marine organisms will respond to future changes in pH?

Multiple Choice

How much of human-produced carbon dioxide ends up dissolved in the ocean?

• one-third

• one-half

• one-fifth

• one-tenth

Multiple Choice

Which of the following actions can help lower your carbon footprint?

• Using less energy at home

• Driving more

• Buying bottled water

• Eating more meat

Fill in the Blanks

Pure water has a pH of

.

Open Ended

Based on what you learned about the pH scale, how does the pH of ocean water compare to pure water, and what does this tell us about ocean water's acidity or alkalinity?

Open Ended

What is ocean acidification and what are the causes?