Oceans : The Life Of Planet Earth

“Since the beginning of the industrial era, the ocean has absorbed some 525 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, presently around 22 million tons per day” (Ocean Portal, n.d). This number is expected to increase forevermore as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels increase and the effects of Climate Change worsen. At first, the idea of our oceans absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere may sound great, however, scientists have been quick to learn otherwise. High concentrations of carbon dioxide in oceans can have detrimental effects on the ocean chemistry and marine ecosystems (Hardt; Safina, 2008). Marine ecosystems are greatly complex and depend on every marine organism to function properly, any change can put the whole ecosystem at risk. For example, the increase of carbon dioxide in our oceans is responsible for the dissolving of “brittle star” skeletal parts, which has in effect caused food scarcity for many fish, crabs, shrimp, and other starfish (Leu, 2013). Furthermore, these marine ecosystems are very important to humans- being the primary food source for millions around the world and having an economic market worth trillions of dollars (Hardt; Safina, 2008). Part of keeping these ecosystems safe is to understand how they work and how projected changes can harm marine organisms.

Modern fishing methods have first and foremost created serious problems for ocean ecosystems. Scholastic Scope states, “The populations of almost all fish species that we eat have shrunken, some drastically, as a result of overfishing, or catching fish faster than they can reproduce” (Dignan 14). Sadly, fish cannot reproduce fast enough to sustain their populations when different fishing techniques drain their ecosystem’s health. Because humans are relatively new organisms, fish, a much older species, have not adapted to modern fishing techniques and overfishing in the sea. Therefore, oceans are at risk because fish cannot compete with newer, more efficient fishing techniques produced by humans. Climate change is furthermore another major threat to oceans. As published by Scholastic Scope, “Warming ocean waters, rising sea levels, and violent storms disrupt the lives of many species and affect fragile marine ecosystems” (Dignan 14). Although climate change may now be a controversial issue, its footprint and effects have no doubt left their mark. Powerful and destructive climate change has also been the culprit of extinction for many other animals such as the marine animals during the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Since things often repeat itself in history, the ocean could have a Holocene extinction event, which would completely

The ocean is a very delicate ecosystem in which the slightest change of pH or chemical composition will result in devastating results. Between 25 and 40% of anthropogenic carbon emissions have entered the marine area since the industrial age (Sabine et

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, mankind has slowly increased the total greenhouse gas emissions that enter the atmosphere. Over time, this pollution began to add up. Now planet Earth is struggling to maintain its health with the combined forces of global warming and ocean acidification looking to bring demise. From all portions of the world, troubling changes are emerging in the chemistry of our oceans’ waters. The oceans takes in around a quarter of the Carbon Dioxide that mankind releases into the atmosphere every year, so as atmospheric Carbon Dioxide levels rise, so do the

Ocean acidification is becoming on of the most concerning subjects compared to global climate change. pH is the level of acidity, seven being neutral fourteen being most basic and zero being most acidic. The pH levels in the ocean are dropping and becoming more acidic. This is happening because of increasing carbon dioxide emissions. The ocean is taking in the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

ocean’s eco-system that we wouldn’t be forced to adjust to prosper in a safe and effective way of survival. An organization once stated that, “the air that you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, the products that keep you warm, safe, informed, and entertained — all can come from or be transported by the ocean, you hurt it is, its just going to hurt you back,” (Protect Plant Ocean). That quote relates back to this, ocean acidification is a socio- ecological system that will have to carry out the repercussions of being universal, evidently supported and complex. It is a wicked problem that will be hard to turn around and what our society is doing is we are learning how to deal with the effects by having the ability to survive without

Ocean acidification has recently become a big problem. Coral reefs and fish are dying, causing local economies to lose up to $375 billion every year from lack of tourism and fishing profits (Worland). Ocean acidification is caused mainly by carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. The carbon dioxide “reacts with water molecules to form carbonic acid,” thus increasing the acidity (Stone). “The ocean currently absorbs about a third of human-created CO2 emissions, roughly 22 million tons a day,” according to National Geographic. We’ve already “disposed” of 530 tons billion tons of carbon dioxide into the ocean. Because of this scientists are now studying the ocean and have thought of two possible ways to reduce acidity - geoengineering and cutting carbon emissions.

The ocean does a good job of absorbing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which according to global warming can help the planet out; however the oceans are being affected by this. This can lead to a disruption in the aquaculture facilities which humans depend on for

However; life in the ocean may be on the verge of change due primarily to excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The main factors in this climate change are observed to be the increase in temperatures and the resulting acidification of the oceans. The previously mentioned changes and others in the report are readily observable, such as the uptake of anthropogenic carbon since 1750 that has led to the ocean becoming more acidic, with an average decrease in pH of 0.1 units and in some instances blatantly obvious, even to the average layperson. It is difficult to conclude what the rate of change in the future will be and the effects of observed ocean acidification on the marine biosphere.

Oceans are the largest ecosystems on Earth, and are the largest life support systems. More than 97% of the world’s water is consisted in our oceans. Oceans generate half of the oxygen we breathe. Oceans provide a sixth of the animal protein people eat. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduce the impact of climate change. Oceans are the most promising source of new medicines to combat cancer, pain and bacterial diseases.

In 2017, oceans are getting to be harmful acidic regent for every organisms living on the earth. Ocean is a rich and important source for most of organisms. It occupies 3/4 of the surface of earth and holds 97% of the earth’s water (Protect Planet Ocean). This huge amount of water absorbs CO2 from atmosphere and that causes ocean acidification. The acidic ocean affects on every organisms on the earth in many ways, even if you are living far from the ocean. Ocean acidification is harmful for many organisms, and it could be stopped by only one solution: reducing CO2 produce.

Ocean acidification is a harmful, but important process in the ocean, it occurs when carbon dioxide is released into the ocean causing a reduction in the hydrogen. The process of ocean acidification happens underwater, and creates carbonic acid, which increases acidity in sea water ecosystems. Ocean acidification is causing climate change in the oceans and almost all saltwater environments. According to the article Interactive Oceans, “Increasing levels of carbon dioxide, however, are outstripping the absorptive abilities of the oceans and are causing climate change.” This evidence shows that the increase of carbon which is happening from the process of ocean acidification is causing the climate of oceans and the atmosphere to change.

The oceans are a critical part of all living things survival. Earth is made up almost entirely by oceans, about 70% of the earth’s surface is covered in water. About 97% of all water on earth is contained in our oceans, and about half of all the air we breathe is provided by plants and organ-isms that live there (Laurence, 2010). Our oceans are key in providing home to small organisms creating the base of our food chain. Though marine habitats are being destroyed by a number of different factors which heavily effect the rest of the worlds ecosystems, closely monitoring these ecosystems and how they are being destroyed is important to preserve the biodiversity of the planet. There are many smaller ecosystems that make up our oceans, these include mangroves, the intertidal zone, coral reefs, and the open ocean.

One of the most serious effects of global warming, as it continues to intensify, is the increase in the ocean levels. Thermal expansion of the ocean and glacial melting are likely to cause a .5 to 1.5 meter rise in the ocean level by the year 2100. As the ocean level rises and if no protection is provided, many freshwater supplies could be jeopardized. Tens and possibly hundreds of millions of