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Ocean acidification

Investigating the impact of ocean acidification on biogeochemical cycling through sea ice

  • Module,
  • The carbon and water cycles, climate and change,
  • Environmental interactions and management,
  • Key Stage Five
  • Overview
  • Lesson one: Case study
  • Lesson two: Data analysis
  • Lesson three: Practical task
  • Follow up

Key words

  • Ocean acidification

  • Biodiversity

  • Climate change

  • Marine environments

Summary

Location

This expedition occurred during March 2010 and April 2010 at a Sea Ice Station 78°N and 104°W in the Canadian High Arctic.

Aims

The research aimed to investigate the impact of ocean acidification on biogeochemical cycling through sea ice, and how this affects Arctic marine communities. The research focused on certain characteristics of the Arctic Ocean, specifically the carbon chemistry, nutrient content and biological communities inhabiting the ocean.

Research techniques

Data were collected by cutting square metre holes in sea ice up to five metres thick, through which water samples were collected using oceanographic instruments. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were also measured over a 45 day period. Back in the lab in the UK, the water samples were analysed to measure levels of minerals and ions, organic matter, light levels, levels of chlorophyll and the numbers / DNA of microorganisms living in the water.

Outcomes

  • To determine how the carbon chemistry, nutrient content and biological communities of the Arctic Ocean might change in different physical and chemical conditions

  • To consider how biological communities might respond to ocean acidification. Will they survive?

  • To understand how carbon dioxide transfers from the atmosphere to the ocean. This affects how ocean acidification happens in the future

Key topics and themes

  • Evidence for climate change: scientific research as a means of providing evidence for climate change on the short, medium and long term

  • Impacts of climate change: the direct impacts of global warming on vulnerable and  fragile environments and ecosystems

  • Ocean acidification: the process and implications of an increase in the acidity of sea water, including the impact on ecosystems and biological communities

  • Sunset at Camp

Documents to download

  • Unit lesson content summaries 

  • Links to the A-level and IB specifications

  • Ocean Acidification fact file 

  • Ocean Acidification: The Facts (EPOCA, 2009) 

Video clip

  • Ocean acidification: Connecting science, industry, policy and public

Additional links

  • Plymouth Marine Laboratory

  • Catlin Arctic Survey 2010

  • European Project on Ocean Acidification (EPOCA)

  • UK Ocean Acidification Programme

Researchers

Dr Helen Findlay

Dr Helen Findlay is the Lord Kingsland Fellow at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Helen received the Society's Ralph Brown Expedition Award in 2010 to support her work on ocean acidification in the Arctic.

 

'From the field' Awards - Inspiring fieldwork supported by the RGS-IBG

Delivered in collaboration with The Goldsmiths' Company, these awards enable geography teachers to work alongside practioners at the cutting edge of geographical research to develop educational resources for the classroom.

 

 

Downloads

  • Ocean Acidification Unit Lesson Content Summaries (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Unit Lesson Content Summaries (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Links to A-level and IB Exam Specifications (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Fact file (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Fact file (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification The Facts (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 1 (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 1 (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 1 Reference List Document (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 1 Reference List Document (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 1 Summary of Arctic Research Findings (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Spearman's Rank Example (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Spearman's Rank Example (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Example Exam Question (.doc)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Example Exam Question (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Exam Question Mark Scheme (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Exam Question Mark Scheme (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Additional Spearman's Rank Data Sets (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Additional Spearman's Rank Data Sets (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Additional Spearman's Rank Data Sets Answers (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Additional Spearman's Rank Data Sets Answers (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Spearman's Rank Excel Guide Documents (.doc)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Spearman's Rank Excel Guide Documents (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Correlation Explanations Document (.doc)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 2 Correlation Explanations Document (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 Experiment One Instructions (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 Experiment One Instructions (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 Experiment Two Instructions (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 Experiment Two Instructions (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 Microorganisms Video Clip (.wmv)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 Teachers notes for setting up the experiment (.doc)
  • Ocean Acidification Lesson 3 Teachers notes for setting up the experiment (.pdf)
  • Ocean Acidification Follow Up Task (.docx)
  • Ocean Acidification Follow Up Task (.pdf)
  • Download all

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