Climate change and its effects on the oceans

Climate change and its effects on the oceans

The effects of climate change are now hard to ignore. From extreme weather to biodiversity loss and habitat destruction, humanity is increasingly realizing the need to take urgent action to combat climate change. The oceans, which make up around 70% of the earth's surface and play a crucial role in the global ecosystem, are particularly threatened by climate change. In this article we want to take a closer look at the impacts of climate change on the oceans and explain why urgent action is needed.

Climate change: definition and causes

What is climate change?

Before we turn to the effects of climate change on the oceans, let us first clarify what we mean by climate change. The term describes long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, wind, air pressure and other weather phenomena on Earth. This is not about short-term fluctuations, but about trends over decades and centuries.

Causes of climate change

Climate change is mainly due to human activities. The combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) produces greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which form a kind of insulation layer in the atmosphere and thus trigger the so-called greenhouse effect. This causes the earth to warm up, causing an increase in the global average temperature.

Impact of climate change on the oceans

The increase in global average temperature is having significant impacts on the oceans. These manifest themselves in physical, chemical and biological changes, sometimes with serious consequences.

Warming of the oceans

The oceans are a huge heat reservoir and absorb around 90% of the heat generated by the greenhouse effect. This results in the oceans warming. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), ocean surface temperatures rose by 0.6°C in the 20th century and even higher temperature increases are expected in the 21st century.

Sea level rise

Warming oceans also cause water to expand and sea levels to rise. In addition, the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps increases the water level in the oceans. The IPCC predicts global sea level rise of 60 to 110 cm by the end of this century.

Ocean acidification

The oceans not only absorb heat, but also a significant proportion of the CO2 released into the atmosphere. This leads to ocean acidification. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the pH of the oceans has already fallen by 0.1, which corresponds to an increase in acid concentration of around 30%.

Impacts on marine habitats and biodiversity

Ocean acidification and warming have many negative impacts on marine flora and fauna. The increase in the proportion of CO2 in the water leads to problems with the formation of limescale in marine organisms such as corals, mussels and certain types of plankton. This threatens entire ecosystems, such as coral reefs.

Rising water temperatures are putting pressure on many marine creatures, leading to changes in their distribution and life cycles. Some species migrate to colder waters, others cannot adapt quickly enough and die out.

Conclusion and recommendations for action

The impacts of climate change on the oceans are alarming and require urgent action. Not only are marine habitats and biodiversity threatened, but also the people who depend on the oceans - be it through fishing, tourism or as coastal dwellers.

Combating climate change and protecting the oceans requires both individual and political efforts. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, switching to renewable energy, protecting and restoring ecosystems, sustainable agriculture and forestry, and conscious consumption are just a few measures that are important. It is urgent time to take responsibility for our planet and its oceans.