The other carbon dioxide problem

• Main Author: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2013
• Subjects: Educação Básica::Ensino Médio::Geografia::Questões ambientais; sociais e econômicas; Educação Superior::Ciências Exatas e da Terra::Oceanografia::Oceanografia Física; Polution; Carbon dioxide; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: http://objetoseducacionais2.mec.gov.br/handle/mec/24505

Fundamental changes in seawater chemistry are occurring throughout the world's oceans. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from humankind's industrial and agricultural activities has increased the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. The ocean absorbs almost a third of the CO2 we release into the atmosphere every year so as atmospheric CO2 levels increase so do the levels in the ocean. Initially many scientists focused on the benefits of the ocean removing this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. However decades of ocean observations now show that there is also a downside — the CO2 absorbed by the ocean is changing the chemistry of the seawater a process called ocean acidification. This change in the ocean’s chemistry will have profound effects on life in the ocean and those who depend on it Educação Superior::Ciências Exatas e da Terra::Oceanografia Ensino Médio::Geografia