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Description
The anthropogenic increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂), has significant impacts on the thermal and chemical state of the world’s oceans. This study presents an integrated analysis of ocean warming, CO₂ absorption, and ocean acidification resulting from anthropogenic emissions. The research focuses on the relationship between heat accumulation in ocean surface waters, the uptake of atmospheric CO₂, and the consequent variation in pH values of ocean waters. A thermodynamic calorimetric approach is applied to estimate temperature changes in the upper ocean layer and to evaluate the amount of heat absorbed by ocean waters over time.
The suggested method relates the absorbed heat to temperature variation using thermodynamic relations involving the mass of ocean water and its specific heat capacity. Calculated temperature variations are compared with observed data in order to validate the approach. In addition, the absorption of CO₂ by ocean waters is analyzed as a key factor influencing the concentration of hydrogen ions and the resulting decrease in pH values. Based on this relationship, a quantitative expression is derived that describes the variation of ocean pH as a function of the absorbed mass of carbon dioxide.
The study also considers the role of marine phytoplankton in the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton populations contribute significantly to the fixation of atmospheric CO₂ through photosynthesis and are responsible for a substantial portion of global oxygen production. Using available biomass estimates, the potential capacity of phytoplankton to reduce excess CO₂ in ocean surface waters is evaluated. The analysis suggests that a relatively small increase in phytoplankton biomass could contribute to the mitigation of accumulated anthropogenic CO₂.
The results demonstrate that the calculated temperature and pH variations are consistent with measured trends over recent decades. The proposed combined thermodynamic and chemical approach provides a simplified framework for assessing the state of ocean waters and the influence of anthropogenic emissions on marine environmental processes.