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Q: What effect does a high atmospheric carbon level have on the deep ocean?
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What are large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed by?

The ocean absorbs large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and is acidified thereby.


What might decrease global atmospheric carbon dioxide?

There is no known way that humans can economically remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; all we can really do is reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide and slow down the rate at which atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing. The surface waters of the ocean do absorb some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as atmospheric carbon dioxide level increase, but there is little interchange betwen the warm upper ocean and the deep layers. However over a period of several thousand years, there is sufficient interchange to absorb large volumes of carbon dioxide, allowing the atmospheric concentration to return more or less to normal. Afforestation. Planting trees will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.


How do oceans decrease the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide?

As the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide increases above its long-term average level, the surface water of the oceans begins to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby partly countering the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This is demonstrated by the rising acidity of sea water, since dissolved carbon dioxide becomes carbonic acid. However, there is very little interchange of water between the warm surface layer and the deep ocean, so very little of this carbon dioxide is dispersed into deeper water. Scientists say that the anthropogenic increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide level could be absorbed by the ocean, but only over a period of several thousand years.


Why does the ocean gain acid when glaciers melt?

Melting glaciers are associated with elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, hence, the oceans become more acidic.


How will greenhouse gas affect the ocean?

The main direct effect of greenhouse gas on the ocean is increased acidity. As atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rise, more carbon dioxide is dissolved in the surface waters of the oceans. Dissolved carbon dioxide is carbonic acid, and increased levels have been detected in the water. This is believed to be responsible for coral bleaching. There is very little interchange between the warmer waters close to the surface and the deep ocean waters, but over a period of thousands of years, the dissolved carbon dioxide will eventually move to the lower waters, enabling the oceans to remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Indirectly, because greenhouse gases raise the temperature of the earth, the ocean also warms and expands. This has been partly responsible for rising sea levels, although the melting of the ice caps and glaciers also plays a part.

Related questions

What is the relationship between the rise of ocean temperatures and the rise in the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide?

The relationship between the rise of ocean temperatures and the rise in the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide is that when there is a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide the warmer the temperature of the ocean is


What Large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide are absorbed by what?

The ocean absorbs large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and is acidified thereby.


What are large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed by?

The ocean absorbs large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and is acidified thereby.


What might decrease global atmospheric carbon dioxide?

There is no known way that humans can economically remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; all we can really do is reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide and slow down the rate at which atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing. The surface waters of the ocean do absorb some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as atmospheric carbon dioxide level increase, but there is little interchange betwen the warm upper ocean and the deep layers. However over a period of several thousand years, there is sufficient interchange to absorb large volumes of carbon dioxide, allowing the atmospheric concentration to return more or less to normal. Afforestation. Planting trees will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.


What has carbon dioxide to do with global warming?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a heat-trapping "greenhouse" gas. As the level of CO2 increases, the amount of heat trapped in earth's atmosphere increases. The end result is glacial ice melt, increasing ocean depth, and an increase in ocean surface temperature which increases the power of storms. Another effect is that as the ocean absorbs atmospheric carbon, it tends to do so in the form of carbonic acid, souring the oceans. Marine biologists anticipate about a 170% increase in ocean acidity by the end of this century, potentially causing the extinction of up to 30% of ocean dwelling species.


How do oceans decrease the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide?

As the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide increases above its long-term average level, the surface water of the oceans begins to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby partly countering the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This is demonstrated by the rising acidity of sea water, since dissolved carbon dioxide becomes carbonic acid. However, there is very little interchange of water between the warm surface layer and the deep ocean, so very little of this carbon dioxide is dispersed into deeper water. Scientists say that the anthropogenic increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide level could be absorbed by the ocean, but only over a period of several thousand years.


How do oceans deal with large amounts of carbon dioxide?

There are several ways that the oceans are related to atmospheric carbon dioxide:Carbon dioxide dissolvs into water to make a weakly acid carbonic acid. The acidity of the ocean water has increased with increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levelsOf the plants on the earth, phytoplankton probably accounts for 80% of the earth's oxygen from photosynthesis where CO2 is converted to O2. Some speculate that an increase in carbon dioxide may cause a phytoplankton bloom.Some ocean animals (corals and mollusks) use carbon dioxide as carbonate to form their shells


Does the ocean's buffering affect offset carbonic acid?

Your question is somewhat garbled, but some of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in the ocean and forms carbonic acid. This has a moderating affect on the atmospheric concentration of CO2.


Why does the ocean gain acid when glaciers melt?

Melting glaciers are associated with elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, hence, the oceans become more acidic.


Where is the atmospheric the greatest?

at the ocean and going deeper into it


How does the increasing volume of carbon dioxide affect ocean water?

It's biggest effect is that it encourages algae blooms.


Where do plants in the ocean get carbon?

Carbon Dioxide dissolves in ocean water. Plants in the ocean use the carbon dioxide dissolved in the ocean water.