Climate change and its effects on the oceans

Climate change and its effects on the oceans

The effects of climate change can now hardly be ignored. From extreme weather conditions to loss of biodiversity to the destruction of habitats - humanity is increasingly clear that measures urgently need to be taken to combat climate change. The oceans, which make up about 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 examine the effects of climate change on the oceans more precisely and explain why urgent action is required.

climate change: definition and causes

What is climate change?

Before we turn to the effects of climate change on the oceans, we first want to 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. It is not about short -term fluctuations, but about trends for decades and centuries.

causes of climate change

Climate change is mainly due to human activities. The combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) creates 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 means that the earth heats up, i.e. causes an increase in global average temperature.

effects of climate change on the oceans

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

Warming of the oceans

The oceans are a huge heat store and absorb around 90% of the heat caused by the greenhouse effect. As a result, the oceans warm up. According to the world climate (IPCC), the surface temperatures of the oceans rose by 0.6 ° C in the 20th century and even higher temperature increases in the 21st century.

increase in sea level

The heating of the oceans also means that the water extends and the sea level increases. In addition, melting glaciers and pole caps increases the water level of the sea. The IPCC predicts a global increase in sea level by 60 to 110 cm by the end of this century.

acidification of the oceans

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

Effects on marine habitats and biodiversity

The acidification and heating of the oceans has many negative effects on the sea flora and fauna. In this way, the increase in the CO2 content in the water leads to problems with the limestone formation of marine organisms such as corals, mussels and certain types of plankton. This threatens entire ecosystems, such as the coral reefs.

The increasing water temperatures burden many sea creatures, which leads to changes in their spread and life cycles. Some species migrate into colder waters, others cannot adapt quickly enough and die.

conclusion and recommendations for action

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

to combat climate change and to protect the oceans, both individual and political efforts are required. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, switch to renewable energies, protection and restoration of ecosystems, sustainable agriculture and forestry as well as conscious consumption are just a few measures that are important. It is urgently time to take responsibility for our planet and its oceans.