Understanding Acidification

Oceans and Coastal Ocean Acidification

Click to watch video on how to teach the lesson

Implement this lesson:

Before any other lesson or activity

Learning objective:

To introduce students to coastal and ocean acidification by using real data to investigate both short and long-term changes in ocean chemistry and the effect that these changes have on the organisms living in coastal areas.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

HS-LS2-6

Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Science and Engineering Practices

Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

HS-LS2-C: A complex set of interactions within an ecosystem can keep its numbers and types of organisms relatively constant over long periods of time under stable conditions. If a modest biological or physical disturbance to an ecosystem occurs, it may return to its more or less original status (i.e., the ecosystem is resilient), as opposed to becoming a very different ecosystem. Extreme fluctuations in conditions or the size of any population, however, can challenge the functioning of ecosystems in terms of resources and habitat availability (HS-LS2-6).

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms within the system.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

B.10(A) describe the interactions that occur among systems that perform the functions of regulation, nutrient absorption, reproduction, and defense from injury or illness in animals

B.10(C) analyze the levels of organization in biological systems and relate the levels to each other and to the whole system

B.12(E) describe how environmental change can impact ecosystem stability

C.10(E) distinguish among types of solutions such as electrolytes and nonelectrolytes; unsaturated, saturated, and supersaturated solutions; and strong and weak acids and bases

C.10(F) investigate factors that influence solid and gas solubilities and rates of dissolution such as temperature, agitation, and surface area

C.10(G) define acids and bases and distinguish between Arrhenius and Bronsted‐Lowry definitions and predict products in acid‐base reactions that form water

C.10(H) define pH and calculate the pH of a solution using the hydrogen ion concentration

E.4(C) diagram abiotic cycles including the rock, hydrologic, carbon, and nitrogen cycles

E.4(E) measure the concentration of solute, solvent, and solubility of dissolved substances such as dissolved oxygen, chlorides, and nitrates and describe their impact on an ecosystem

E.4(H) research and explain the causes of species diversity and predict changes that may occur in an ecosystem if species and genetic diversity is increased or reduced

E.5(B) identify source, use, quality, management, and conservation of water

Overview

This lesson provided by NOAA serves as introductory lessons on ocean acidification. There are five different digital lessons and accompanying worksheets. The lessons use graphs, charts, and interactive graphics to elicit the link between increasing CO₂ in the atmosphere and its negative effects on ocean ecosystems. The module will allow students to use real data to investigate short term and long term impacts of acidification. Teachers will be able to either allow students to independently follow the unit or complete as teacher guided. These five lessons can be completed all in one class or spaced out over several days.

Materials:

NOAA’s Understanding Oceans and Coastal Ocean Acidification: Data in the Classroom.
Printed worked for each lesson. (optional)
Individual computers. (optional)

Advanced Prep:

Review Teacher’s Guide.
Print accompanying worksheets.

Procedure:

Pull up NOAA Understanding Oceans and Coastal Acidification: Data in the Classroom Introduction. Read the overarching question to students and allow for discussion
When class is ready, advance to Lesson 1. Read aloud the words and ask guiding questions to students. Discuss as a group questions 1-3.
Advance to Lesson 2 and repeat the process. Students may write down answers on the printed worksheet.
As a group work through the interactive graphic on Lesson 3 which students provide answers.
Repeat process for Lesson 4 and 5

Questions to Ask:

Pre-experiment

What is ocean acidification?
What is carbon dioxide?
Do you think the air has any effect on the ocean?
What do you think are some of the main causes of pollution?
What are different types of pollution affecting the ocean?
Is the ocean warming or cooling? Why?

Post-experiment

How does carbon dioxide affect the ocean?
What are the short term effects of carbon dioxide on the ocean?
What are the long term effects of carbon dioxide?
How is pH and temperature linked?
Is there other reasons the pH of the ocean may be decreasing?
How can we measure pH in the ocean?

Extensions:

Click the ‘Get Data’ tab to see different extensions including:

Using the map tool to view historic CO2, pH and aragonite data at three locations.
Using actual coastal mooring data to view real time CO₂, pH, and aragonite graphs.
Run a simulation to see historic and predicted levels of pH and aragonite.

Evaluation:

Students will write a paragraph describing the connection between CO₂ levels in the atmosphere and its short term and long term effect on ocean ecosystems.