Technical note: Interpreting pH changes
<p>The number and quality of ocean pH measurements have increased substantially over the past few decades such that trends, variability, and spatial patterns of change are now being evaluated. However, comparing pH changes across domains with different initial pH values can be misleading becau...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/18/1407/2021/bg-18-1407-2021.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>The number and quality of ocean pH measurements have increased
substantially over the past few decades such that trends, variability, and
spatial patterns of change are now being evaluated. However, comparing pH
changes across domains with different initial pH values can be misleading
because a pH change reflects a relative change in the hydrogen ion
concentration ([H<span class="inline-formula"><sup>+</sup></span>], expressed in mol kg<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) rather than an
absolute change in [H<span class="inline-formula"><sup>+</sup></span>]. We recommend that [H<span class="inline-formula"><sup>+</sup></span>] be used in
addition to pH when describing such changes and provide three examples
illustrating why.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |