T115 Oceans CO2 Capacity

Understand that the oceans capacity to absorb carbon dioxide is changing and is linked to temperature
(uptake) and changes in primary productivity (storage, e.g. biological pump)
More CO2 diffuses and dissolves in colder sea surface water and less CO2 diffuses and dissolves in
warmer water.
Once dissolved in surface seawater, CO2 can enter into the ocean carbon cycle through three different
mechanisms:
1. The physical carbon pump (sometimes called the solubility pump)
2. The biological carbon pump.
3. The carbonate pump.
The physical carbon pump: in this pump, carbon compounds can be transported to different parts of
the ocean in downwelling and upwelling currents. Downwelling currents occur where cold, denser
water sinks. These downwelling currents bring dissolved CO2 down to the deep ocean. Once there,
the CO2 moves into slow-moving deep ocean currents staying there for hundreds of years.
The biological carbon pump: The oceanic biological carbon pump is driven by organisms that live in
the ocean. It plays a major role in: transforming carbon compounds into new forms of carbon
compounds, moving carbon throughout the ocean, and moving carbon down to the sea floor
sediments.
4 bits info on crustose coralline algae.

they contribute significantly to reef calcification and cementation, and they

induce larval settlement of many benthic organisms

1. A)
2. C)
3. A)
4. B)
5. A)
6. C)
7. B)
8. B)
9. B)
10. A)
11. B)
14/02/2024
Analyse results from models to determine potential reef futures under various scenarios.
DHW – Degree heating week
SST – Sea Surface Temperature; the temperature of water at or very close to the ocean’s surface.
ASB – Annual Severe Bleaching
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