• Final Thoughts LAST TIME . . .ended here – Turn in Long Lab Field Trip (HW-1) – Please do HW-2 (due July 7th) – Wed – Final Chemical Oceanography -CO2_The Oceans & Ocean Physics Fe2+ Ca2+ NO3- OUTLINE • • • • • • Foundations of Chemical Oceanography Periodic Table – Valence Electrons Water – It’s Unique Properties Dissolved Elements in SeaWater Sources & Sinks Carbon Dioxide & the WORLD Ocean – Intro to Global Warming • Residence Times of Elements REMOVE? – When sources/ sinks in balance – ocean is steady state – At steady state – can define the amt. of time For total mass of an Element (e.g. Na) to be replaced – aka Residence Time (how long it is in the ocean) – Residence Time • = mass of element present / rate of input or removal • Na – 1.472 x 1011 kg yr-1 tons/ year / 2 x108 tons/yr-1 Na/year = 70 million years! Recall - Periodic Table _Valence Electrons Outer valence electrons (= e-) participates in bonding of Elements e.g. CO2 4 e- = (.) carbon dioxide .. .. O::C::O ‘‘ ‘’ Covalent bond Sharing e- O=C=O CO2 6 e- = (.) • CO2 – Aka, dry ice O=C=O – More CO2 you add • the more acidic the water MORE acidic • Carbon Dioxide & the WORLD Ocean – Is human released (= anthropogenic) carbon dioxide (CO2) • Changing the Earth’s Climate? ? – CO2 traps heat in earth’s atmosphere as a greenhouse gas » Other gasses: CH4 (methane), CFCs, H2O CO2, CH4 (methane),CFCs, H2O • Who/ where is the real contribution(s) Per Capita and Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2005 CO2 emissions in tons per person Total CO2 emissions in million tons Source: Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) • Two International Research Programs – Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (1988-1998) – World Ocean Circulation Experiment (1990-2002) • To estimate oceanic storage of CO2 – Oceans ~could account for 48% CO2 released thru human activity – Greatest CO2 in Deep waters: N. Atlantic & intermediate Atlantic, S. Oceans »` » why it this? to be continued • Carbon Dioxide & the WORLD Ocean – Increase in CO2 in Atmosphere Increase CO2 in World Oceans – Concurrently seen increase in pH (more acidic) surface waters • diff of ~ 0.4 pH (not a big deal?) RecaLL 0.4 diff = 4Xs more acidic! Acidic means more H+s donating vs Basic H+ accepting. . . • Marine Carbonate System and pH – Little CO2 exists as gas in Seawater, • Mostly in chemical form: Carbonate Buffering System • 0.4 pH diff. in Oceans b/c of Carbonate Buffering System – Favors formation of Carbonate and (H+) (see below) MORE acidic calcite Ca2+CO32- Shells dissolve shallower recall lysocline This lowering of pH (more acidic) effects dissolution rates of phytoplankton shells?> • Marine Carbonate System and pH • Anthropogenic (Human produced) Carbon Dioxide – 2 major sources: • Burning of fossil fuels • Deforestation Challenge Question How much have atmospheric CO2 levels risen since 1800? Year Amount 1800 – 270 ppb 2004 – 380 ppb (30% increase) • Anthropogenic (Human produced) Carbon Dioxide – 1958, David Keeling (Scripps Institute) • Mauna Loa Observatory, HI • CONTINUOUS (daily) CO2 measurements, – Sawtooth pattern indicates variation due to: » Warm seasons: plants consume CO2 (drops) » Cold seasons: animals, plants release CO2 (rise) Trend indicates Increased atmospheric CO2 levels b/c ~ burning of fossil fuels. . • Anthropogenic (Human produced) Carbon Dioxide – Fate of anthropogenic CO2 in Atm. is uncertain • Sources/sinks reveal discrepancy ~ 2 gigatons (Gt) – i.e. there is less CO2 in atmosphere then should be present – Based on what know about SOURCES & Sinks – The MISSING Carbon Problem: addition Puzzle for Climate modeling. • Estimation of the Sources & Sinks of Carbon to the Atm. – Req. understanding of ~ The GLOBAL Carbon Cycle – What is it? • The exchange of Carbon b/w various carbon reservoirs via – bio-geo-chemical processes – Amts. in Gigatons (Gt) • The GLOBAL Carbon Cycle – Total Carbon in Earth Reservoirs: Sources • 1) mainly stored in Sedimentary rocks – e.g. limestone or dolomite ~82,370,000 Gigatons (Gt) Ca2+CO32- CaMg(CO3)2 • 2) as organic carbon buried in sediments • 3) CO2 dissolved in world Oceans 1 2 3 ~15,500,000 Gt ~ 36,000 Gt – More then fossil fuels, the atm. Living organism combined • The Global Carbon Cycle – Residence Time also Important • Scientists interested in process that move Carbon from reservoir to another • Small Changes in Reservoir MAY have profound effects • Large Reservoirs may exert disproportionate influence on small reservoirs – Organic carbon as Fossil fuels ~residence time: thousand years LAND OCEAN The Global Carbon Cycle - Residence Time also Important • Temporal scales exist over which Carbon transfer ~ ranges – e.g. Months thousands of years • Thus Scientists Recognize 3 diff Carbon Cycles based on their time scales: What are they? – 1. Short term Organic carbon cycle » Atm & biosphere (seasonal - Keeling Curve 1958-) – 2. Long-term Organic carbon cycle » Formation of fossil fuels (burial of organic carbon (dinosaurs, plants)) – 3. Long-term InOrganic carbon cycle » Storage of Carbon in rocks – • Long Term Inorganic cycle – best represented here – From CO2 trapped in Ice Core measurements (Antarctic) – Together all 3 cycles • Influ. atm CO2 over – Long Time scales • CO2 vs Temp correlate – Spark a large debate . . .. CO2 Avg. Earth TEMP 13*C Varying/time Petit et al., 1999, Nature 399, 429 • Summary – No Questions CO2 is on the Rise 300ppm • Unlike never before – Leading to Higher temperatures on earth – What will happen? – Major climate changes??? » More hurricanes, storms, floods etc. » Quite possibly – only one way to find out » Wait and see . . .. SUMMARY- / Confirming your knowledge • How does CO2 in the atmosphere influence the Earth’s Climate? – Serves as a Greenhouse gas • What holds more CO2 the Oceans or Atm? – Oceans; thus small changes in ocean conditions • large effects on atmosphere, warming/cooling (climate change) • Where is most of the earths carbon stored? – Rocks (CaCO3) limestone • CO2 & O2 undergo rapid changes via biological activity in Oceans from – phytoplankton (photosythnesis) & animals (respiration); what do they do? • CO2 is consumed (phytoplankton) O2 released • O2 is comsumed (animals/zooplankton), CO2 is released • Storage of Carbon in Oceans~ only understood by quantifying: – The production (photosynthesis), – The sedimentation – Burial/subduction in ocean crusts SUMMARY – Humans have been adding Considerable CO2 to Atm for • 100 years – The world ocean has absorbed 48% of anthropogenic CO2 • increasing Ocean acidity (lowered the pH) • LONG TERMS RESULTS -- Not Clear? • Speculative . . . But probable – real climate changes How does this CO2/temp. change affect climate? To be continued... • Lets get informed/Involved? – Watch the Movie 90min Inconvenient Truth Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnjx6KETmi4 Controversial Inflection points Minor issue – does cast doubt on presentation -brought to light by nut jobs. .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_aRKRyB7UE&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOqms6REmC8&feature=related Will ask 2 basic Questions from about glaciers and worldwide temperature