A Changing Ocean

Climate change is having a severe impact on the ocean and the ecosystems that thrive within it. In this article, you will explore how climate change is impacting sea levels, pollution, and ocean warming, and the effect these impacts are having on ocean ecosystems.

Sea level

Sea levels are rising at a faster rate than ever before. From 2006 to 2015, sea levels rose about 3.6 millimetres per year, which was 2.5 times faster than from 1901 to 1990. Sea levels are rising because of melting ice sheets and glaciers. White ice plays an important role in reflecting sunlight away from Earth, which keeps the planet from warming. Less ice will also mean more exposed water, which is dark and absorbs sunlight, causing the oceans to warm even faster. Melting sea ice also takes away habitats that Arctic mammals and birds depend on. Lastly, if ice continues to melt and increase the sea level, it will be more likely that coastal communities will experience flooding.

Pollution

Single-use plastics that are not recycled properly often end up in oceans. With warming temperatures, these single-use plastics can be broken down somewhat, but not completely, leading to more microplastics. These tiny particles of plastic are eaten by marine life and passed through the food chain through a process known as bioaccumulation. They are eventually passed on to humans when they consume fish.

Ocean warming

As the Earth’s atmosphere warms, the oceans absorb much of the excess heat. The warmer the water gets, the less able it is to hold dissolved oxygen. This leads to deoxygenation. Additionally, the warmer temperatures increase the metabolism of marine organisms, increasing their need for oxygen consumption. These two concerns combined can lead to habitat loss and a decrease in sea life. Many organisms may be forced to relocate to cooler areas of the ocean, which can interfere with local food webs.

Source:

Temming, M. (2019, September 25). How climate change is already altering oceans and ice, and what’s to come. Science News. https://www. sciencenews.org/article/ipcc-how-climate-change-already-altering-oceans-ice-future

Borunda, A. (2019, September 25). Oceans and ice are absorbing the brunt of climate change. Environment. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/ipcc-report-climate-change-affecting-ocean-ice