pH in the Bahamas: What’s up with this data?
Note: all of the following data was taken before I puked in the ocean this morning. (Who knew you could get seasick without being in a boat?) Since my puke is fairly acidic it’s possible that I single-handedly wiped out a few coral, but John Rollino, the key scientist here reminded me that the ocean is quite large and that my little regurgitated H+ ions probably have about a mile between each one right now. Other nice people on the crew also kindly reassured me that I was not the first person to puke in the ocean.
So, regardless of any contributions from my bodily fluids, what is going on with the pH here in the Bahamas?
Here is data from one of the sites where scientists (such as yours truly and pukey) have been both tracking the coral populations and measuring pH.
Chemistry students: your assignment is to draw some conclusions from this data. Look for trends, graph it, do whatever helps you to visualize the situation and then write to me about it a few sentences in the comment section below.
P.S. if you make a graph it may be helpful to the scientists down here (and it may expand your understanding and skills). If you know how to make one on excel, do it and email it to me at shea@cityacademyslc.org
The data at this coral reef was taken 3x/year:
Date pH Date pH Date pH
Feb-95 8.2 Jul-95 8.2 Nov-95 8.4
Feb-96 8.2 Jul-96 8.0 Nov-96 8.2
Feb-97 8.3 Jul-97 8.2 Nov-97 8.1
Feb-98 8.3 Jul-98 8.3 Nov-98 8.4
Feb-99 Jul-99 8.2 Nov-99 8.2
Feb-00 8.2 Jul-00 8.3 Nov-00 8.1
Feb-04 8.3 Jul-01 8.1 Nov-02 8.3
Feb-02 8.3 Jul-02 8.1 Nov-02 8.2
Feb-04 8.3 Jul-04 8.2 Nov-04 8.1
Feb-04 8.2 Jul-04 8.1 Nov.04 8.23
Feb-05 8.04 Jul-05 8.03
posted by Shea @ 9:28 PM
17 Comments:
Shea I'm confused on the dates. When it says Feb 98 does that mean in 1998? What do we do about the multiple years with more then one reading? Also your missing a date on Feb 99. Alright thanks Shea
-Taylor
Okay sorry Shea. I just looked at it and it clicked in my head because your supposed to read it sideways. Sooooo..... new question. The dates at the bottom are kinda jumbled I'm not sure if you want us to just assumed that the 04 in the 00 column or what. Anyway thanks again Shea
-Taylor
Hey Shea whats up? how's the weather over there? so Alyssa and I don't understand the graph and what were suppose to do. I hope you're enjoying your vacation away from us:)see you soon.
uhh I'm not sure what to do.
Hows the trip?
hey Shea it's us again..... your mom wanted us to ask about the migration of the sharks (black tip perhaps)and to see if you've seen any around the area you're at. so yeah, make sure not to get eaten:)
Dear,
Shea
How are you doing? Are you having fun? Is it really as beautiful as in the pictures? What would you say is the best part about being there?
Do you think the Coral Reefs have hope?
Love, Chelsea-Rain, Jessica.
Oh and Taylor too.
Hey Shea,
So scientist say global warming is causing the polar ice caps to melt you say the ocean is becoming more acidic. My question is about the ocean, the ocean is pretty basic but not too far away from being neutral if the ice like in the arctic circle are melting it's dumping a lot of fresh water into the ocean is that making the ocean more neutral? and how is the bad for the environment?
It seems that it fluctuated between 8.0 and 8.4, moving about .1 pH every three months, it's not until the 2005 samples that it dropped by .2 pH and stayed there.
ICT
the pH looks like it fluctuates about .2 usually, staying around pH 8.2 or 8.3. but in 2005 you see the number change a pretty great amount, from 8.3 to 8.04. it stays in the 8.04 8.03 region the rest of the year, suggesting that the water in the Bahamas is getting more acidic.
Mercedes
It is always changing, but it seems as if Februaries have become more Basic, July has just gone up and down, and November is becoming more acidic as the years go on? It's hard to draw a conclusion from only three months a year for this many years, but graphing it would definatly help to make it more clear.
~Gabriela
rage is making you a ph level chart but she's not done.
and i couldn't figure it out for the life of me.
love kim
rage is making you a ph level graph, i couldn't figure the stupid thing out.
love kim
in 2005 there was a .20 drop in PH do you know how this was cause. and if its a good thing that is going neutral or if its a bad thing.
this is not sunshine.
rage is making you a ph level graph but i couldn't figure out stupid excel.
i also couldn't figure out the stupid commenter thing so i made sunshine help me.
which is why it lies and says sunshine did it.
love kim.
sorry i said the same thing five times. i thought i was doing it wrong. but i wasn't.
lovekim
It seems to only change by .1 or .2 pH. It ranges from 8.1-8.4 for the majority of the chart, until February 05, where it drops to 8.04ish ( can't remember the actual number) from 8.23. It goes up (down?) to 8.03. So it looks like its becoming slightly more acidic, but mostly it just goes up and down. That's confusing and irritating.
Current trend to being more acidic?
What about from 1990-96 or how about from as early as recorded to present.
If data is not available - make your students find a similar data set for a similar ecosystem over at least a 30 year time - Jacque Cousteau must have something on this.
Ryan
Post a Comment
<< Home