What happens when carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in seawater?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking what occurs when carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in seawater, providing multiple choice options related to oceanic changes.
Answer
Ocean waters become more acidic.
The ocean waters become more acidic when carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in seawater.
Answer for screen readers
The ocean waters become more acidic when carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in seawater.
More Information
When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid, which dissociates to release hydrogen ions, increasing the water's acidity and lowering the pH. This phenomenon is known as ocean acidification and affects marine life by altering the chemical environment.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing ocean acidification with temperature or sea level rise, which are also effects of climate change but linked to different processes.
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