Activity 10: Release of CO2 by the oceans

Pascal Eitner, Markus Vogelpohl, Clemens Bröll and Markus Nielbock
Status: Mar 2023
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The oceans buffer global warming in two ways: on the one hand, water absorbs a large part of the additional energy introduced into the climate system; on the other hand, some of the CO2 from the atmosphere is dissolved in the water and bound there. As the water temperature rises, however, this buffering effect decreases, so that CO2 is released again. This further intensifies the greenhouse effect and thus also causes the water temperature to rise further - an example of a positive (self-reinforcing) feedback process.

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

More materials like h5p-study units, videos and animations with Module - Feedbacks and tipping points in the climate system.

    Ausgearbeitete Lerneinheiten:

    Gymnasium

    Realschule

    Video: Release of CO2 by the oceans

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    • The acidic solution prepared should be as weakly acidic as possible, so that after introducing CO2, after a short waiting time and swirling the glass, a color change is just visible. Only a few "bubbles" of CO2 should be introduced. If the solution is too acidic, the release through heating is not successful to the extent that a clear change can be seen with the indicator.
    • Hazard assassment

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