Title: Impact of surface ocean acidification on the CO₂ absorption rate

Authors: A. Shanableh, T. Merabtene, M. Omar, M. Imteaz

Addresses: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE. ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE. ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE. ' Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Science, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia

Abstract: The rising level of atmospheric CO₂ and consequently the acidification of the surface ocean affect the CO₂ absorption rate. However, there are no mathematical models to describe the impacts of acidification on the rate of CO₂ absorption. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop simple mathematical models to describe the dependence of the CO₂ absorption rate on the pH of the surface ocean. The developed models predict that the CO₂ absorption rate is enhanced with acidification directly proportional to the increase in the abundance of H₂CO*3 in the surface ocean. In addition, the models predict that the increasing rate of CO₂ absorption reflects the increasing rate of increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Keywords: global warming; ocean acidification; carbon absorption rate; surface ocean; atmospheric CO2; carbon dioxide; greenhouse gases; mathematical modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2011.038377

International Journal of Global Warming, 2011 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.163 - 172

Published online: 29 Jan 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article