Acid Rain
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- Effect: Acid rain, with a pH between 1 and 6, impacts the chemistry of surface ocean waters.
- Extent: Major effects on ocean acidification are seen locally and regionally but have a relatively small global impact.
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Eutrophication
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- Cause: Coastal waters are influenced by excess nutrients, mainly nitrogen, from sources like agriculture, fertilizers, and sewage.
- Result: This leads to eutrophication, causing significant plankton blooms. When these blooms collapse and sink, bacteria decompose them, reducing seawater oxygen and increasing CO2 (lowering pH).
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Reactions in Ocean Acidification
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- Processes: The term ‘ocean acidification’ summarizes reactions between CO2 and seawater.
- Key Reactions:
- Formation of Carbonic Acid:
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- Reaction: CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 → H+ + HCO3-
- Effect: This releases hydrogen ions, increasing acidity and lowering pH.
- Interaction between Carbonate Ions, CO2, and Water:
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- Reaction: CO3^2- + CO2 + H2O → 2HCO3-
- Combined Effect: Increases acidity and reduces the availability of carbonate ions.
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