Ocean chemistry is very important for the health of ocean life. Here are a few ways it affects marine ecosystems:
Nutrient Availability: Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are really important for the growth of tiny plants called phytoplankton. These plants are the foundation of the ocean food chain. The amount of these nutrients changes with ocean currents and areas where water rises to the surface. This directly affects how much life can grow in the ocean.
pH Levels: Ocean acidification happens when more carbon dioxide (CO2) gets absorbed by the ocean. This can harm creatures like corals and shellfish that need calcium carbonate to build their shells. When the pH level drops, it makes it harder for them to grow, which can affect the variety of life in the ocean.
Temperature and Salinity: These two factors change how much gas, like oxygen, can dissolve in water. When water is warmer and less salty, it often holds less oxygen. This can create "dead zones," where very few organisms can live.
So, all of these chemical factors work together to shape where marine life can be found and how healthy it is.
Ocean chemistry is very important for the health of ocean life. Here are a few ways it affects marine ecosystems:
Nutrient Availability: Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are really important for the growth of tiny plants called phytoplankton. These plants are the foundation of the ocean food chain. The amount of these nutrients changes with ocean currents and areas where water rises to the surface. This directly affects how much life can grow in the ocean.
pH Levels: Ocean acidification happens when more carbon dioxide (CO2) gets absorbed by the ocean. This can harm creatures like corals and shellfish that need calcium carbonate to build their shells. When the pH level drops, it makes it harder for them to grow, which can affect the variety of life in the ocean.
Temperature and Salinity: These two factors change how much gas, like oxygen, can dissolve in water. When water is warmer and less salty, it often holds less oxygen. This can create "dead zones," where very few organisms can live.
So, all of these chemical factors work together to shape where marine life can be found and how healthy it is.