Let's take some time to reflect on what we've just covered on coral reefs! Here you may want to think about how you would help students understand the principles underlying the conclusion that corals are in trouble because of increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. The underlying chemical equilibria are complex, but must be understood at some level in order to be able to analyze and accept the scientific conclusions. Who or what are we if we take others word alone for such things, or dismiss it because we cannot understand it?
We want you to read and study the recent work by reporter Craig Welsh and the following two accessible and (reasonably) short semi-technical papers about the problem of "ocean acidification" and its consequences:
The Seattle Times [1] (don't forget to click on some of the "Sea Change Stories" in the right margin. They are well done and visually stunning!)
Kleypas and Langdon (2003) Conference Proceedings Summary [2]
Doney (2006) Scientific American [3]
These should give you a feeling for the background, chemical principles and uncertainties in drawing conclusions about the developing trend in ocean acidification.
For this activity, let's use a common classroom technique to explain the complex issue of ocean acidification. Activity 3 should be posted to the discussion board for Lesson 7
See the grading rubric [4] for specifics on how this assignment will be graded.
Links
[1] http://apps.seattletimes.com/reports/sea-change/2014/jan/22/struggling-next-steps/
[2] https://courseware.e-education.psu.edu/courses/earth540/priv/seawaterchemcorals.pdf
[3] https://courseware.e-education.psu.edu/courses/earth540/priv/doney_sciam_2006.pdf
[4] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/earth540/grading_rubric_problemsets