CrusaderFrank
Diamond Member
- May 20, 2009
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So assuming that ALL the CO2 is converted to Carbonic acid what effect would this have on ocean chemistry in any given year? The total volume of the ocean (with an average pH of 8.whatever) is 1.5E+18 if we add 30 gigatons of CO2 (3E+10), that's a .000002% difference.
How is it possible to change ocean chemistry on the scale described if you're only making these minuscule changes?
It's the change in the number of H+ ions that's important. If X amount of CO2 causes a certain pH, then an increase would cause a proportionate change, the total volume being irrelevant. That's the same mistake you make in counting the entire atmosphere when claiming the added CO2 is miniscule, when what matters is the change in the active ingredient.
Now, I'm really confused. So you're saving that adding 1 liter of carbonic acid to a 2 liter bottle of pure water is the same effect on pH as adding it to the ocean because it produces hydrogen ions?
Then you ignore the bicarbonate that's also produced in creating the hydrogen ions?
If I want to change the pH of my fish tank I have to adjust for the number of gallons in the tank, is that not true in the ocean?
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