Oceans and the threats they face from human caused climate change

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A positive feedback loop

this reduces the amount of sulfur that is flowing out of the ocean and into the Earth's atmosphere

This further reduces the reflection of solar radiation back into space, and ultimately leads to more warming and higher temperatures

Oceans and the threats they face from human caused climate change

Coral Bleaching

Coral reefs are very sensitive to temperature, and since climate change has become more and more prevalent oceans are now experience more marine heat waves

Coral bleaching leads to the starvation/shrinkage/death of coral reef

The coral acts as a habitat and also helps the functions of various species which is now threatened

in the early 1990's it was noticed that due to higher global temperatures there was a mass event of coral bleaching

Ocean acidification

Higher acidification also causes harm to marine species that need calcium carbonate to form skeletons and shells

also impacts ecosystems such as coral reefs that depend on calcium carbonate for the formation of reef structures

oceans absorb a third of global carbon emissions

Although the ocean absorbs a significant amount of global carbon emissions and helps combat climate change, this has caused ocean acidification to increase 30 times than the natural variation

This is a 25% increase in ocean surface pH levels

helps slow down climate change significantly

Approximately 22 million tons per day

The relationship between humans and the ocean

Higher levels of development can lead to higher levels of consumption of products and resources

this ultimately leads to more run off going into the ocean

This toxic run off from the disposal of chemicals and due to the consumption of goods and services harms marine life as the run off can be microscopic and can be consumed by marine life

Since humans sit at the top of the food chain we end up consuming this toxic run off in the water

leads to a various range of health problems: reproductive issues, hormonal issues, organ damage, etc.

The ocean is a vital resource for human activity, humans have a very anthropocentric view for this resource

Marine migration

The ocean is warmer than it was at any time since the 1880s

As the ocean warms fish move to their preferred tempratures

Warmer ocean temperatures cause vital nutrient depletion for marine life

They either move towards the poles of the earth or deeper into the ocean

This effects fisheries as they will no longer have access to as many fish as they would have

Rising sea levels

drowning wetlands

Oceans absorbing heat, which ultimaetly causes sea levels to rise also drown wetlands, although wetlands grow vertically pretty quickly to keep up with regular increases in water levels, sea levels rising is causing a much larger distrubance

Coral reefs and sea grass meadows are also drowning

coastal flooding

Plant materials used for fuel

The rate of coastal flooding is also accelerating on the East and Gulf coasts

Flooding is also becoming more prevalent along coastlines (especially in North America)