217k views
4 votes
Observe: Click Return to original conditions and Restart. Set the Ocean pH to 7.6. Click Advance year 20 times. What changes do you see on the CORAL REEF and DATA tabs?

User Ziur Olpa
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Setting the Ocean pH to 7.6 and advancing 20 years will likely show signs of ocean acidification on the coral reef ecosystem and its inhabitants, as documented in the DATA tab. This includes a decline in coral health, marine biodiversity, and a decrease in the calcification rates necessary for marine organism shell and skeleton formation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the Ocean pH is set to 7.6 and advanced 20 years, changes observed on the CORAL REEF and DATA tabs likely include indications of ocean acidification, such as a decrease in the health and biodiversity of the coral reef ecosystem. As CO2 levels in the atmosphere rise, more CO2 dissolves in the ocean, leading to increased acidity. This process affects marine life significantly; for instance, coral calcification rates decline as the water becomes more acidic, posing a threat to the corals and marine organisms that depend on them. The decrease in the availability of calcium carbonate, crucial for the formation of shells and skeletons of many marine organisms, will likely be evident in the DATA tab.

Due to ocean acidification, organisms that rely on coral reefs for food and habitat, including various species of fish and invertebrates, might also showcase a decline in numbers. The effects of a changing pH level in the ocean can be far-reaching, potentially leading to coral bleaching and ecosystem destruction if atmospheric CO2 concentrations continue to increase.

User Alex Lawrence
by
8.6k points