Chemistry of Climate Change (Atmosphere or the ocean)

October 9 , 2008

Essay

Chemistry of Climate Change

Chemistry of Climate Change The Earth 's climate is directly linked to the oceans where the seas do play a significant role in the determining factors of our planets climate . We learn from Dr . Nicholas R . Bates (2008 ,

.1 ) a senior research scientist as he teaches us that not only is the earth 's climate a determining factor in the Earth 's climate but , It is also an important sink for greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2 . CO2 is continuously

exchanged between the atmosphere and the ocean . Overall the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases to the atmosphere ' Many scientists are searching into the details of these important effects on our climate and what measures can be taken in slowing down the effects of global warming on our planet

We are told by the Yale Forum concerning the oceans effects on the climate change that (Hardt , Safina

.1 ) Carbon dioxide reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid , which releases hydrogen ions , reducing pH . Since industrialization , the pH of ocean surface waters has declined 0 .1 units , reflecting a 30 percent increase in acidity . Under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC ) emission scenarios , pH by the year 2100 will decline 0 .3-0 .4 units from the pre-industrial values , reaching a pH in the range of 7 .76-7 .86 ' When the water from the ocean is combined with carbon dioxide , the ph is lessened which places more cause for concern on the growing changes in our Earth 's climate . The ocean is directly linked to the climate change on the Earth

Reference Page Bates , Dr . Nicholas R 2008 . Welcome to the Marine Biogeochemistry Lab br

.1 . http /www .bios .edu /Labs /co2lab /co2main .html . Bermuda Institute of Ocean Scientists

Hardt , Marah . Safina , Carl . 2008 . The Yale Forum on Climate Change the Media . The Basic Chemistry of Ocean Acidification...