Our Declining Oceans

The oceans have been part of the earth before mankind was even thought of. Greenhouse gas emissions are changing them for the worse. Ocean levels are rising because of the thermal expansion of warming oceans, according to IPCC, this rising can result in many floods across America (Michael). The rising of the ocean can have tragic effects on our economy, meaning that rising in water will result in less area for many shore side organisms. If that's not enough Climate Central predicts that 140-160 million houses and building will be below sea level in a century (Michael).

Not only fish are falling victims any more. Overfishing has led to imbalances of diets in predators as well as the introduction of invasive species. Also, anglers lose or dump much of the equipment they have; leaving harmful hooks and trash to pollute animal habitats. The problem is so bad that wildlife rehabilitators say, “Every year, anglers leave behind a trail of tackle victims that includes millions of birds, turtles, and other animals who suffer debilitating injuries after they swallow fishhooks or become entangled in fishing line” (PETA). This causes such a stress on the environment as a whole. It is so bad that if it continues, we may see many more species fall victim to

In all, Earth’s oceans are diverse systems that all of life depends on for survival. The oceans act as a large conveyor belt; transporting varying volumes of water do different parts of the world. Any kind of alterations or disruptions to this conveyor belt causes regional sea levels to rise. These alterations are greatly impacted by anthropogenic climate change, the long-term alteration of earth’s climate as a result of human activities. The main ingredient behind climate change is the constant changing of global temperatures due to increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions produced by humans. Mankind became intertwined with climate change during the industrial

(Ocean Currents) Right now oceans are being affected by global warming, and not in a good way. “Global warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.”(Google Dictionary) Some of the many things are being affected in the ocean. Like the “sea levels, coastlines, ocean acidification, sea water, sea temperatures, tides, the sea floor, the weather, and ocean currents.” (Wikipedia) Over the past century it has been seen that sea levels have risen by a lot because of global warming and that has contributed to the temperature increases of the ocean. The ocean has started to get warmer and warmer. Studies have shown that global warming might be changing the direction of the Atlantic Ocean currents and that can disturb sea life and land. As warmer water is coming onto cold water places in the ocean, the warm water is pushing the cold water way.

The oceans problems starts with pollution from the most visible such as devastating oil spills to less visible such as runoff in rivers carrying; plastic bags, paper, plastic bottles etc. Also big and

As we do it becomes clear, as I have suggested, that a perception-changing moment has arrived. It comes with the realization that in a single human lifetime we have inflicted a crisis on the oceans greater than any yet caused by pollution. As a method of mass destruction, fishing with modern technology is the most destructive activity on Earth. It is no exaggeration to say that overfishing is changing the world. (4-5)

In addition to carbon dioxide levels and surface temperatures, oceans also provide scientists with evidence of climate change. Oceans play a major role in climate change because they absorb almost all (90% from 1971-2010) of the energy increase in the climate system (“Summary”, 2013, p. 8). Scientists are confident that ocean surface temperatures have increased since the beginning of industrialization (“Summary”, 2013, p. 8) and that humans have contributed to this ocean warming (“Summary”, 2013, p. 17). From 1971-2010, ocean surface temperatures have increased approximately 0.4-0.5°C and are projected to increase by 0.3-2.0°C by 2100 (“Summary”, 2013, p. 8). However, temperature is not the only effect of climate change on oceans; other

As we arrive into another new year the same environmental issues plague us, waiting for more to be made to change the way things are done. One particular issue is the rise of or current sea levels, and even more troublesome the fact that the rate is going faster than scientist expected and how much of a impact it will have on land and aquatic life. Studies show that scientist have tracked the seas levels throughout time but were unbothered due to the fact that the increase was by very minute changes. Scientist first began to realize the rise of sea levels during the 20th century, where concern began to increase. “Records and research shows that sea level rise has been rising at a rate of 0.04 to 0.1 inches per year (“Is sea level” 2016). I believe that sea level rise is just one of the many causes of global warming. But more specifically sea level is said to be caused by “thermal expansion (caused by the warming of the oceans (since water expands as it warms) and land based ice (such as glaciers) due to increased melting)”(Gaffin, 2002) to me this is something to fear because it’s something that could directly affect people just like me, where we normally would see serious flooding. There are many Americans who live in coastal states whose futures in their current and children’s residences are greatly threatened

Sea levels have been on the rise ever since the start of the industrial revolution, some aspects of this rise are natural and some human induced. Sea level rise (SLR) has many different effects on global systems including, flooding, saltwater intrusion, salinity and density. These changes will ultimately effect around 40% of the world population, which live within about 100 kilometers of a coastline (Union of Concerned Scientist, 2011). These increased effects will put millions of people at risk of displacement. As stated earlier sea levels have been rising (slowly) since the industrial evolution, but in the last few decades (early 1990s) there has been a significant increase (see figure. 1)(Nicholas & Cazenave 2010). A

There is 1,260,000,000,000,000,000,000 liters of water on earth and about 70% of that is situated in our oceans I tell you this because one of the key factors fighting against global warming is not us, it is the oceans themselves like mother earth trying to restore balance. CO2 or carbon dioxide can be absorbed by the vast ocean thus reducing the amount in our atmosphere and cooling the oceans down as CO2 causes the atmosphere to heat up. The oceans can only absorb so much CO2 in a period of time, so as we have been going through the industrial era which started in 1830 pollution wasn 't a big issue topic the oceans have been soaking in CO2 with every wave. Because the sea is becoming saturated with CO2 it can no longer take in huge quantities so the earths atmosphere has to take the hit this is bad for global warming as this causes a reaction called the “greenhouse effect”.

Jennifer also states that the nutrients from land-based sources have created hundreds of ocean "dead zones”. These are huge areas depleted of oxygen, where little or no sea life can survive. Jennifer Weeks also talks about how scientists and experts are doing research on new life forms being found that can help with new medicines and other great products. However, experts are warning us that without better protection, ocean water quality, fish stocks and marine habitats will suffer long-lasting damage.

In a world dependent on technology and resources, many problems have started to arise due to all of the resources used in the process of creating our current society. For example, the resources used from just producing electricity like coal and natural gas is enough to cause severe pollution in many ways. This is because both of these are nonrenewable resources and they emit carbon dioxide when burned; one of the most common usages. All of that energy has serious waste as a side effect. Ocean temperatures rising due to global warming and human pollution rapidly melts ice caps, causes storms such as hurricanes and typhoons, and destroys aquatic ecosystems.

Temperature also considered a main factor for Ocean characteristics regulation. Global warming increase the temperature of the ocean. Rapidly rising levels of atmospheric CO2 are not only causing ocean warming, but also lowering seawater pH to a point closer to the acidic number, hence the carbonate saturation state of the oceans, on which many

Various chemicals have different types of impacts on the water quality. For example, lead bio-accumulates on the bottom, and may retard fish growth and reduce photosynthesis. At certain concentrations, zinc and copper are toxic to fish and aquatic micro-invertebrates. Cadmium and chromium could be mutagenic and carcinogenic. Biochemical oxygen demanding material can deplete the oxygen level in the aquatic ecosystem resulting in decrease in the fish population. Excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, cause algal blooms which block sunlight and consume oxygen as they decompose. Oil and grease from automobile usage, as well as improper

Consequently, the diversity in the ocean is essential us, it not only allows us to survive but also helps our economy. Although the problem of the depleting ocean may be due to boats or fisherman, the ocean is a necessity for many people, it provides their jobs and the money they make for a living. Tourism is also a big factor, many people travel to places just for the ocean, millions of people every year go on vacation just to see the ocean which provides a huge source of income for people who live in that region, when the oceans gone their resources and income could be scarce.