Question

Global climate change threatens coral reefs by 

1. increasing the temperature 

2. decreasing the temperature 

3. increasing the pH of the oceans 

4. decreasing the pH of the oceans 

Which of the above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2 and 4

Answer 1

(c) Global climate change threatens coral reef by increasing the temperature and decreasing the ph level of the ocean. Much of the carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere dissolves into the ocean. In fact, the oceans have absorbed about 1/3 of the carbon dioxide produced from human activities since 1800 and about 1/2 of the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels (Sabine et al. 2004). As carbon dioxide in the ocean increases, ocean pH decreases or becomes more acidic.