Ocean chemistry and deep-sea sediments

SUMMARY:• The solubility of calcium carbonate increases with depth.• The concentration of ΣCO 2 increases with depth and aging water masses (respiration of organicmatter and depletion of oxygen and increases in dissolved CO 2 ).• Calcite is more stable than Aragonite, therefore the Lysocline and the CCD is shallower forAragonite than for Calcite.• The average level of the CCD is an indicator for the removal of atmospheric CO 2 .• The ocean will become more acid and the level of the CCD will rise!• Ocen acidity may have changed through time and space. A relative carbonate-poor ocean mighthave been caused by a shallow CCD and vice versa.• A very high productivity in a warm house world, for example, produces high organic materialwhich is consuming much of the oxygen in the ocean, and coverting it to CO 2 causing anincrease in the acidity of water and a shallow CCD.