AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Ocean Acidification
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
A factory burns large amounts of coal for energy. Trace the environmental impact from the factory to a coral reef.
The factory releases CO2, increasing its atmospheric concentration. The ocean absorbs the excess CO2, causing its pH to decrease (acidification), which reduces calcium carbonate availability and damages the coral reef's ability to grow.
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A factory burns large amounts of coal for energy. Trace the environmental impact from the factory to a coral reef.
The factory releases CO2, increasing its atmospheric concentration. The ocean absorbs the excess CO2, causing its pH to decrease (acidification), which reduces calcium carbonate availability and damages the coral reef's ability to grow.
If a country increases its use of vehicles that run on fossil fuels, how might this impact marine ecosystems?
Increased vehicle emissions release more CO2 into the atmosphere, leading to greater ocean absorption and acidification, which in turn damages coral and other shell-forming marine life.
Explain the cause-and-effect relationship between deforestation and coral health.
Deforestation reduces the number of trees absorbing atmospheric CO2, increasing its concentration. The ocean absorbs this excess CO2, becoming more acidic and hindering the ability of corals to form their calcium carbonate skeletons.
What is the specific effect of ocean acidification on corals?
Ocean acidification damages corals by making it difficult for them to form their shells, a process which is dependent on the availability of calcium carbonate.
How does atmospheric CO2 affect ocean chemistry?
As the atmosphere's CO2 levels rise, the oceans absorb more of it, which causes chemical reactions that lower the water's pH, making it more acidic.
Define 'anthropogenic activities' in the context of ocean acidification.
In this context, anthropogenic activities are human actions, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, that lead to increased CO2 concentrations and subsequently cause ocean acidification.
What is the primary cause of ocean acidification?
The primary cause is the increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, as the oceans absorb a large part of this excess CO2.
Why does a lower ocean pH harm shell-building organisms like coral?
A lower pH (acidification) leads to a loss of available calcium carbonate in the water, which is the essential mineral corals and other organisms use to build their shells and skeletons.
List three anthropogenic activities that contribute to ocean acidification.
Three major anthropogenic activities are the burning of fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, and deforestation, all of which increase atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
What is the key chemical compound that becomes less available to corals due to ocean acidification?
The key compound is calcium carbonate, which is essential for corals to build their hard, protective shells.
What is ocean acidification?
Ocean acidification is the decrease in the pH of the oceans, primarily caused by increased concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) being absorbed by the ocean.