Bicarbonate's Effect On Coral Reefs
Carbon dioxide from greenhouse gases has a huge effect on calcium carbonate concentrations in ocean water. An increased concentration of CO₂ in the air then causes an increase in calcium carbonate levels in water. CO₂ is highly soluble in water, especially mineral water (“When Carbonate”). When carbon dioxide reacts with water it forms carbonic acid.
CO₂ + H₂O ↔ H₂CO₃
This product can then go on to react and produce hydrogen ions and bicarbonate.
H₂CO₃ ↔ H⁺ + HCO₃⁻
Bicarbonate is also a product of carbonate ions reacting with water.
CO₃²⁻ + H₂O ↔ OH⁻ + HCO₃⁻
As all of these reactions are happening, calcium carbonate from the rock, soil, and sediments at the bottom of the ocean are then reacting to form calcium ions and carbonate ions …show more content…
Coral reefs are known to protect other sea life such as fish and attract tourists. As the ocean water temperature increases, corals are experiencing bleaching by ejecting algae, which is what gives them the various colors they are known for (Baird). The death of these precious coral reefs are jeopardizing fishing of those species that live off of coral. Coral reefs also create a “roadblock” in the ocean and without them there for protection, the beaches could start to crumble and wear down. The reason that coral reefs are easily affected is because more carbonate is being formed than what is being dissolved in the water, due to increase carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. With this increase, the favorable formation of reefs will no longer happen because they can’t survive at acidic levels. This phenomenon has hurt the economy in many ways worldwide because sea life and money are intertwined. An example of this economic decrease is the shellfisheries off the northwestern coast of the U.S. Oregon and Washington are already seeing the effects of ocean acidity on their oyster products. They have been experiencing death rates up to eighty percent in their larvae, which is much higher than normal (Atkin). This is all due to using the highly acidic seawater to grow them. This market is worth up to $280 million each year, which could be lost because of the drop in pH levels of
CO₂ + H₂O ↔ H₂CO₃
This product can then go on to react and produce hydrogen ions and bicarbonate.
H₂CO₃ ↔ H⁺ + HCO₃⁻
Bicarbonate is also a product of carbonate ions reacting with water.
CO₃²⁻ + H₂O ↔ OH⁻ + HCO₃⁻
As all of these reactions are happening, calcium carbonate from the rock, soil, and sediments at the bottom of the ocean are then reacting to form calcium ions and carbonate ions …show more content…
Coral reefs are known to protect other sea life such as fish and attract tourists. As the ocean water temperature increases, corals are experiencing bleaching by ejecting algae, which is what gives them the various colors they are known for (Baird). The death of these precious coral reefs are jeopardizing fishing of those species that live off of coral. Coral reefs also create a “roadblock” in the ocean and without them there for protection, the beaches could start to crumble and wear down. The reason that coral reefs are easily affected is because more carbonate is being formed than what is being dissolved in the water, due to increase carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. With this increase, the favorable formation of reefs will no longer happen because they can’t survive at acidic levels. This phenomenon has hurt the economy in many ways worldwide because sea life and money are intertwined. An example of this economic decrease is the shellfisheries off the northwestern coast of the U.S. Oregon and Washington are already seeing the effects of ocean acidity on their oyster products. They have been experiencing death rates up to eighty percent in their larvae, which is much higher than normal (Atkin). This is all due to using the highly acidic seawater to grow them. This market is worth up to $280 million each year, which could be lost because of the drop in pH levels of