This is a partially developed activity description. It is included in the collection because it contains ideas useful for teaching even though it is incomplete.

Initial Publication Date: December 9, 2010

Modeling ocean acidification

Andrew Knudsen, Geology Department, Lawrence University

Topic: Geochemistry
Course type: Upper level undergraduate course

Description

Have students design a model based on atmospheric and ocean data, along with thermodynamic principles to explain ocean acidification.

Learning Goals or Outcomes

I would like for students to be able to craft a model that can lead to a better understanding of ocean acidification and an application of thermodynamic principles.

How would you assess whether those goals have been met?

Students will be expected to run their model with variables I give them. They will also be asked to explain their model in a write-up and a comparison to previous work.

References

Orr et al., 2005, Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms, Nature 437, 681-686 (29 September 2005)