changes in the oceans essay writing
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AN ESSAY ABOUT THE CHANGES IN OCEANS...
Oceans play a very important role in moderating climate change by helping in the regulation of both heat and carbon dioxide levels. It is therefore very important to understand the interrelationship between the oceans and climate change so as to come up with better climate change policies. The Oceans are vulnerable to adverse impacts from human emissions of greenhouse gases. These impacts majorly include air and water temperature changes, rising ocean water levels, increased levels of ocean acidification, coastal erosion and seasonal shifts. Ocean acidification is brought about by rising in atmospheric carbon and makes survival harder for planktonic organisms that depend on calcium carbonate to form their shells.
The effects of acidification have been happening since the start of the famous industrial revolution, where pH levels of the ocean have dropped. This has led to coral bleaching where the organisms that help make up the coral die (Buchheim, 1995). It is important to note that it is from these unicellular organisms that the coral feed from for proper nutrition. As a result, they are left so weak and malnourished hence unable to offer protection and shelter to other marine organisms. This poses a threat to the marine food chain and ecosystem.
The rise in ocean temperatures is another change of concern because increased warming in the ocean enhances ocean stratification. Ocean stratification hinders important processes such as photosynthesis and constraining primary production hence disrupting the marine food web. As the ocean water warms, many species will be forced to migrate so they can maintain the temperature conditions they need for feeding and reproduction. This affects the people and industries that rely on the ocean for food and other natural resources. The upwelling areas, for instance, provide some of the richest fishing grounds. It is known that the coral reefs provide habitat for fish and other protein-rich food sources for people as well as tourist attraction sites.
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