Climate change, acidification and aquatic life
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Question
Define ocean acidification.
Answer
Ocean acidification is the decrease in ocean pH caused by absorption of atmospheric CO2, forming carbonic acid in seawater.
💡 Hint
CO2 lowers pH.
Question
Ocean acidification: what causes it?
Answer
More atmospheric CO2 dissolving into the ocean, forming carbonic acid and lowering pH.
💡 Hint
CO2 dissolves.
Question
What is the simplified chemistry link between CO2 and lower pH?
Answer
CO2 dissolves in seawater and forms carbonic acid, which releases H+ ions, lowering pH.
💡 Hint
Carbonic acid → H+.
Question
Give two ecosystem impacts of ocean acidification.
Answer
It reduces shell/skeleton formation in corals and molluscs and disrupts food webs starting with plankton.
💡 Hint
Shells + food webs.
Question
Give two societal impacts of ocean acidification.
Answer
It threatens fisheries/food security and reduces income/jobs in fishing and tourism sectors.
💡 Hint
People: food + income.
Question
Why does ocean acidification harm corals and shellfish?
Answer
Lower pH reduces carbonate availability and makes it harder to build calcium carbonate shells/skeletons, weakening growth and survival.
💡 Hint
Harder to build shells.
Question
Exam technique for a 7-mark ocean acidification question: what must you include?
Answer
Cover BOTH environmental systems and societies, with multiple distinct points on each side, not just chemistry.
💡 Hint
Systems + societies.
Question
Why can a small pH change be a big deal?
Answer
Because pH is logarithmic, so a small numerical decrease represents a large increase in acidity.
💡 Hint
Log scale.
Question
Why is the long-term solution to ocean acidification global rather than local?
Answer
Because it is driven by atmospheric CO2 levels; reducing emissions is the key solution, and local cleanup cannot remove the underlying CO2 cause.
💡 Hint
Needs CO2 cuts.
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Topic 4.3 hub
Aquatic food production systems
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