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What Is Ocean Acidification — Reading Comprehension

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This educational content, audio integrated, focuses on the critical topic of ocean acidification, explaining how increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere impacts our oceans. Designed for Grade 6 students, it delves into the causes and effects of this environmental issue, helping young learners understand its connection to global temperatures and marine ecosystems. The passage defines key terms like pH, calcium carbonate, and coral bleaching, making complex scientific concepts accessible. Activities include multiple-choice questions, a glossary, and short answer questions, all aligned with NGSS standard MS-ESS3-5, encouraging students to clarify evidence of factors causing global temperature rise.

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CO2 enters ocean, lowers pH, harms coral reefs and shell-building marine life. — Carbon dioxide absorption causes ocean acidification, threatening coral reefs and shell-forming sea creatures.

Have you ever wondered what happens to the carbon dioxide we release into the air? A lot of it goes into our oceans! Ocean acidification is a big environmental problem, closely linked to climate change and rising global temperatures. It's happening because our oceans are absorbing more and more carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels.

When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, it causes a chemical reaction. This reaction makes the seawater more acidic, which means its pH level goes down. Think of pH as a scale that tells us how acidic or basic a liquid is. A lower pH means more acidity. While the ocean is still basic, it's becoming less basic, or more acidic, than it used to be. This change might seem small, but it has huge effects on marine life.

One of the biggest concerns is how ocean acidification affects creatures that build shells and skeletons, like oysters, clams, and especially coral reefs. These animals use something called calcium carbonate to build their hard parts. As the ocean becomes more acidic, there's less calcium carbonate available for them to use. It's like trying to build a house when you don't have enough bricks! This makes it harder for them to grow, and existing shells can even start to dissolve.

Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable. They are home to a quarter of all marine species and are vital for ocean health and biodiversity. When corals struggle due to acidification, it can lead to coral bleaching, where they turn white and can eventually die. This impacts all the fish and other animals that depend on the reefs for food and shelter.

Understanding ocean acidification is key to protecting our valuable marine ecosystems. By reducing the amount of carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere, we can help slow down this process and ensure a healthier future for our oceans and the amazing creatures that live in them. This is a critical aspect of addressing global warming and maintaining Earth's delicate balance.

Interesting Fact: Scientists estimate that the oceans have absorbed about one-third of all human-produced carbon dioxide since the Industrial Revolution.

What causes ocean acidification?

Too much saltCO2 in atmosphereVolcanic eruptionsPlastic pollution

What do shelled creatures use?

Sodium chlorideCalcium carbonateMagnesium sulfatePotassium iodide

What does a lower pH indicate?

More basicMore acidicNo changeIncreased temperature

Ocean acidification primarily results from human activities like burning fossil fuels. True or False?

TrueFalse

How does acidification affect shells?

Makes them strongerHelps them growHarder to buildAdds color to them

What is coral bleaching?

Corals change colorCorals turn whiteCorals become tallerCorals eat more