One Idea to Mitigate the Effects of Burning Fossil Fuels

question 4

Multiple Choice

One idea to mitigate the effects of burning fossil fuels on atmospheric CO₂ concentrations is to pipe liquid CO₂ into the ocean at depths of 2,500 feet or greater. At the high pressures at such depths, CO₂ is heavier than water. What potential effects might result from implementing such a scheme?

• A) increased photosynthetic carbon fixation because of the increased dissolved carbon dioxide in the deep water
• B) increased carbonate concentrations in the deep waters
• C) reduced growth of corals from a change in the carbonate-bicarbonate equilibrium
• D) no effect because carbon dioxide is not soluble in water
• E) both increased acidity of the deep waters and changes in the growth of bottom-dwelling organisms with calcium carbonate shells

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Definitions:

Circadian Rhythms

Biological processes that display an endogenous, entrainable oscillation of about 24 hours, influencing sleep patterns, feeding behavior, hormone production, and other bodily functions.

Photoperiodism

The physiological response of organisms to the length of day or night, affecting behaviors such as flowering in plants and mating in animals.

Regulates

To control or maintain the rate or speed of a process or system to make it operate correctly.

Methyl Salicylate

An organic ester naturally produced by many plants and is commonly used in muscle pain relief creams for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.