unique nature of pure water
What is the molecule H₂O made of?
What is Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom
What is the average temperature of the ocean surface?
What is About 17°C (62°F)
What ion is most abundant in seawater?
What is Chloride
What gas dissolving in the ocean causes acidification?
What is Carbon dioxide
What is the process plants use to take in carbon dioxide?
What is Photosynthesis
What property allows water to stick to itself?
What is Cohesion
What property of water allows ships to float?
What is Density
What is the average salinity of seawater?
What is About 35 parts per thousand (ppt)
Acidification lowers what in the ocean?
what is pH
What process releases carbon back into the atmosphere from dead organisms?
what is Decomposition
What is the term for water’s ability to absorb a lot of heat without changing temperature much?
What is High specific heat
What causes ocean currents to move?
What is Wind, Earth's rotation, and differences in temperature and salinity
What element besides sodium is most common in seawater?
What is Magnesium
Which marine animals are most affected by ocean acidification due to weaker shells?
What is Shellfish and corals
What is the process of carbon moving from the ocean to deep sediments called?
What is Carbon sequestration
What makes ice float on water?
What is Ice is less dense than liquid water
What term describes the ocean’s resistance to temperature change?
What is Thermal inertia
What is alkalinity in seawater?
What is Its ability to neutralize acids / buffer
How does increased CO₂ affect calcium carbonate in the ocean?
What is It dissolves calcium carbonate, weakening shells and skeletons
What process converts atmospheric CO₂ into organic matter by ocean phytoplankton?
What is Photosynthesis
What is the angle of water molecules that gives it a polar nature?
What is 104.5°
What is thermohaline circulation?
What is Global ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity differences
What chemical reaction forms carbonic acid in the ocean?
What is CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃
What’s one long-term effect of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems?
What is Coral reef degradation
What is the “biological pump” in the carbon cycle?
What is The process by which carbon is transported from the ocean surface to the deep ocean by living organisms