This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: How do wave trains travel? How do they interact with each other? ... (Read 77 times)

haleyc112

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 600
How do wave trains travel? How do they interact with each other?

Question 2

Describe how carbon dioxide acts as a buffer in seawater.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

chevyboi1976

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 344
Answer to Question 1

 Wave trains are the progression of dispersed swells. One wave train contains waves that are all the same relative wavelength. The train moves half as fast as individuals in the train.
 Various sizes of wave trains exist in an area at the same time. Longer waves moves faster than shorter waves. These wave trains can be coming in from different storms.
 When wave trains interact with each other, it is called interference. There are two types of interference: destructive and constructive.
 Destructive interference occurs when two wave trains subtract from each other. There is a cancellation effect on the wave energy. This produces almost no waves at all.
 Constructive interference happens when wave trains add to each other. These are bigger than the size of each wave train.

Answer to Question 2

The proportion of carbon dioxide gas in the ocean is greater than that in the atmosphere; however CO2 still readily dissolves into seawater because it reacts with H2O to change chemical forms. In the ocean, CO2 combines chemically with water to form carbonic acid, (H2 CO3), which can further break down into bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO32-). While carbonic acid will lower pH (more acidic), formation of bicarbonate and carbonate increase pH (more alkaline). These chemical changes help to balance pH and hence act as a buffer. This chemical equilibrium is important for marine organisms because the carbonate ions are an important component of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the compound that forms the skeletal material of many marine organisms (sponges, corals, snails, sea stars, etc.). An increase in CO2 ultimately reduces the amount of carbonate available to organisms for building their skeleton, another threat to their survival.



haleyc112

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 600

chevyboi1976

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 344

 

Did you know?

Patients should never assume they are being given the appropriate drugs. They should make sure they know which drugs are being prescribed, and always double-check that the drugs received match the prescription.

Did you know?

On average, the stomach produces 2 L of hydrochloric acid per day.

Did you know?

It is important to read food labels and choose foods with low cholesterol and saturated trans fat. You should limit saturated fat to no higher than 6% of daily calories.

Did you know?

Intradermal injections are somewhat difficult to correctly administer because the skin layers are so thin that it is easy to accidentally punch through to the deeper subcutaneous layer.

Did you know?

Asthma-like symptoms were first recorded about 3,500 years ago in Egypt. The first manuscript specifically written about asthma was in the year 1190, describing a condition characterized by sudden breathlessness. The treatments listed in this manuscript include chicken soup, herbs, and sexual abstinence.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library