Posts: 941
From: California
Registered: Apr 2009

posted July 27, 2010 04:48 PM            

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With the abundance of carbon dioxide in the air due to the present global warming conditions on earth, as CO2 (carbon dioxide) levels rise in the earth's atmosphere, the ocean acts as a "sink" where the CO2 dumps into (molecules always move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration).........the CO2 combines with H2O (seawater) and forms carbonic acid = H2CO3.........H2CO3 reduces into biocarbonate ions, which reduces to H+ ions and carbonate ions............

1. the extra H+ ions in the ocean increases acidity

2. the abundance of H+ ions in the seawater re-combines with carbonate ions over and over again to create bicarbonate........and then reduce again...... so the carbonate ions are not available to the calcifying sea creatures that need them to create their calcium carbonate shells. CaCO3 Their shells can be weakened or deformed.......corals, invertebrates, and many species of marine life are affected. The food chain is affected = domino effect.

Article on ocean acidification:
http://www.seaweb.org/getinvolved/oceanvoices/KenCaldeira.php

More about ocean acidification, + you can do searches to learn more:
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_acidification/

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Posts: 4486
From: The Goober Galaxy
Registered: Apr 2009

posted December 21, 2010 11:47 AM            

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*bump*

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"The stars which shone over Babylon and the stable in Bethlehem still shine as brightly over the Empire State Building and your front yard today. They perform their cycles with the same mathematical precision, and they will continue to affect each thing on earth, including man, as long as the earth exists." Linda Goodman

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Posts: 4486
From: The Goober Galaxy
Registered: Apr 2009

posted January 12, 2011 09:33 AM            

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"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all." Harriet Van Horne

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