Questions
1. Visit the “This Month in Climate Science” blog by the World Resources Institute (find the link on the Module lab page). In your own words, describe one area of climate science or finding from the more recently published month. Were you familiar with this impact previously? (5 pts)
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Next, work through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Understanding Ocean and Coastal Acidification activity from the Introduction tab to Level 5. Each level builds on the last so you need to work through sequentially even if you are only asked to answer questions about certain parts below. You do not need to answer the multiple-choice questions on the page but it is a great way to check your understanding! Answer the following questions as you go along.
2. From Level 2, Measuring Changes in pH, describe the relationship between the three variables (atmospheric CO2, oceanic CO2 and oceanic pH, shown in the “Short vs Long-term Changes in Ocean pH” section) and the impact this has on ocean life around Hawaii. (5 pts)
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3. From Level 2, Forecasting Future Changes in pH, compare ocean pH in 1861 to the projections for 2100. Choose two specific locations on the globe. Share the location, general latitude and longitude and the projected change in pH. (3 pts)
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4. From Level 3, Examining Acidification Along the Coast, which 5 sources of nutrient pollution did you find coming from developed coastlines and how do those excess nutrients related to ocean acidification? (5 pts)
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5. From Level 3, Examining Acidification Along the Coast, why is upwelled water particularly challenging on the west coast of the United States? Typically, upwelling water is excellent for marine productivity because it is oxygenated and nutrient rich. (5 pts)
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6. From Level 3, Examining Acidification Along the Coast, what highest and lowest values of pH did you find for coastal Washington between 2010 and 2017? What about for Hawaii between 2010 and 2017? Which location is more variable and why? (5 pts)
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7. In Level 4, Acidification’s Impact on Shell Building Animals…
a. What impact has ocean acidification already had on shellfish producers in Washington State? In what ways have they had to adapt to maintain shellfish production in more corrosive water? (5 pts)
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b. What impact is ocean acidification projected to have on shellfish producers in Washington State over the next 30-50 years? (5 pts)
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8. From Level 4, How is Acidification Impacting Oysters, drag the adjustable blue line representing aragonite saturation state to 2.0, when Pacific oyster larvae have trouble growing and building their shells. In which months did the saturation state fall below this threshold in La Push, WA? Based on your findings, do the conditions in Washington support the growth and survival of Pacific oysters throughout the year? (5 pts)
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9. From Level 4, Predicting Future Changes in Aragonite, compare the aragonite saturation state in 1861 to the projections for 2100. Choose two specific locations on the globe. Share the location, general latitude and longitude and the projected change in aragonite saturation. (5 pts)
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10. From Level 5, Designing Your Own Investigation, propose a unique research question (not one from the sample question list) about ocean pH and marine life at one or more of the stations shown. Collect the data and share your findings. (12 pts)
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Next, work through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Understanding Coral Bleaching activity from the Introduction tab to Level 5. Each level builds on the last so you need to work through sequentially even if you are only asked to answer questions about certain parts below. Answer the following questions as you go along.
11. From Level 1, Coral Reef Habitat and Range, describe where coral reefs can be found in terms of their depth, preferred temperature range and distance from land. (5 pts)
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12. From Level 2, Calculating Heat Stress from Satellite Data, describe the heat stress for corals between January and March at the Great Barrier Reef in 2017. When is the water above the bleaching limit and what is the significance of a long duration of these conditions? (5 pts)
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13. From Level 2, Measuring Coral Heat Stress, share two locations where the Degree Heating Weeks is 16+ in 2017. (3 pts)
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14. From Level 3, Optional: Surveying Coral Reefs, complete a 360 underwater tour of one of the locations provided. Describe the reef health, the abundance of fish and the mix of hard coral, soft coral, sponges and algae. (5 pts)
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15. From Level 4, Identifying a Bleaching Event, visit the Conditions Report website for Florida’s Mote Marine Lab. From their webpage, click on “Most Recent Current Conditions Report”. Describe two of the plots in this report. In your own words, what is being shown and what does it mean for the coral there? (5 pts)
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16. From Level 5, Plan Your Own Investigation, propose a unique research question (not one from the sample question list) about one or more of the coral reefs with station data. Collect the necessary data and share your findings. (12 pts)
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