Global warming is a phenomenon that has become increasingly concerning in both its severity and its prevalence. What has remained an oft-discussed topic for the scientific community has now become a mainstream issue, due to its far-reaching implications on physical, and even political and socio-economic aspects of society. One of the most significantly impacted factors is oceanic ecosystems, due in part to their interconnectedness with the environment and their fragile nature. In this article, we will explore both the positive and negative repercussions of global warming on the ocean, how the effects of global warming are manifested, and how human beings can take a proactive role in the attempt to reverse these effects.
The ocean is particularly vulnerable to the impact of global warming due to its interconnectedness with other environmental factors, such as air temperatures and ice sheets. As air temperatures rise, the ocean absorbs the heat, in turn causing the ocean to warm and its overall water levels to increase. According to studies, that has caused an average global rise in sea levels of just over 1.2 inches since 1993. Furthermore, in the arctic specifically, ice sheets are melting at increasingly rapid rates due to warming, in the past decade estimates have indicated a nearly 25% decline in the amount of ice in the arctic. There have even been predictions that by 2090 could become a nearly ice-free environment, due to rapidly declining ice levels.
Whilst arguably the greatest effect of global warming on the ocean is an increased rise in sea levels, there are however, some potential positive effects to be noted of global warming as well. A rise in sea levels, for instance, can have beneficial implications for certain habitats, species, and goods found in coastal areas. The area of the ocean and coastline exposed to the sun means that coastal environments could potentially become richer in both natural products and habitation. These benefits are however somewhat negligible compared to the array of negative effects global warming brings to the oceanic environment.
One of the greatest dangers posed to the ocean due to global warming is the increased acidification of the water itself. As ocean water absorbs higher levels of carbon dioxide, the acidity levels in the water increase, posing a particular threat to sea life, specifically oceanic coral and its surrounding plant and marine life. The UN has suggested that by the end of the century pH levels in the oceans could decrease to a point that would be considered too acidic for certain species of oceanic life. Another danger posed to the oceanic environment is the increasingly warm waters. Whilst it could be argued that a warmer ocean could provide potential benefits to certain species of life, it can also cause the displacement of more vulnerable species and the development of species better suited to higher temperatures.
Improving the impact of global warming on the ocean environment is possible, however, it bears considering that the work required to reverse the effects of global warming often has to begin at the very root of the problem. This can mean educating the general public on the dangers of climate change, decreasing carbon emissions through the use of alternative sources of energy, setting up protective laws and regulations, and ensuring that sufficient funding and energy is devoted to researching and implementing new methods of protection. Human beings have the power to create immense positive change in the environment, and with this new awareness and understanding, a proactive role in the prevention of climate-change-induced oceanic destruction should be adopted.
Finally, instead of feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem, adherents of the scientific community and society in general should view global warming as an opportunity to come together, innovate, and implement sustainable practices that will work to the benefit of all ecosystems. Small actions by the public, such as using sustainable products, reducing emissions and using public transport, can together have a large, positive effect on the environment, and the ocean in particular. With this new knowledge of the effects of global warming on the ocean, combined with unified acts of care and thoughtfulness, the environment can be saved and the ocean can once again thrive.
