In my course, Frontiers we learned a lot about the ocean and how humans have dramatically impacted them and the creatures in it. For this action project, we had to write a literature review based on our selected Grand Challenge. My chosen topic was “Understanding Global Change on Marine Ecosystems”. This project served as a huge challenge for me but I had fun learning more about our world. Here it is below, enjoy!
In my research about how climate change affects marine ecosystems, I found interesting facts about why marine life are affected by people. Carbon dioxide is a chemical produced by greenhouse gases. A few examples of greenhouse gases are fossil fuels, electricity, and transportation. When carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, there are a series of chemical reactions that happen. One of the consequences of this chemical lingering in the atmosphere is the danger toward all types of marine life and the chemical changes that are now happening within the ocean. If their habitats are affected by our actions, it puts them at risk of death, decrease in population, and the need to change their environment to survive. Their overall health would be affected too because of the drastic changes to the surrounding environment. But, this would come back to affect human-beings. This could lead to a decrease in supply of fish or other types of seafood fishers need to catch for sale and consumption. Overall, this could affect their food chain, our food chain, and our inhabitance on this planet.
One of the biggest challenges by far for the 21 century has been global warming. The idea that our world is warming has been controversial. In headlines it has been mocked at as” fake news” by our leaders and said to be a hoax. But scientists have proven many times before that the leading cause of the phenomena is from our own actions. There are ways we can decrease and help save ecosystems that are in catastrophic danger. We all play a vital role in helping slow the rate of climate change but only together can this be accomplished. Earth's oceans play a huge role in millions of peoples lives and support an abundance of marine life. Depending on the temperatures within the oceans they can become abnormal and lose key functions to support those lives. A factor that is currently raising attention these last 10 decades has been the rapid increase in warmer oceans and the acidification of these aquatic habitats. But why are temperatures really rising?
The Earth’s oceans reflect only 6% of the Sun’s energy and absorb the rest of the solar radiation. The oceans play a major role in the process of climate change. They release the heat needed to drive the atmospheric circulation, which creates aerosols in the atmosphere. Aerosols, also known as clouds, are particles created from natural sources, like oceans and volcanoes, while other aerosols are from industrial pollution. They stay within the atmosphere and help cool down the planet by reflecting heat back into space, but not all clouds do this. Thicker clouds reflect sunlight and heat back into space, which usually cools down the earth. But, thinner clouds tend to absorb this heat and reflect it back down into the earth, making the planet warmer. Clouds are able to hold the heat even throughout the night when the Sun is away, continuing this warming effect(NASA Science/Climate Kids 2021, May & June).
The heat that the ocean absorbs from carbon dioxide not only warms the ocean, but causes ocean acidification. Ocean acidification has been an issue for more than 30 years. It’s lowered ph levels are caused by high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. We may not think that our carbon footprint on land has much of an effect on marine life but it has a major impact.
The rate at which CO2 is absorbed is 30 times faster than what it would be without human interference. According to One Green Planet, “Ocean acidification harms coral, plankton, shellfish and other species that use calcium carbonate to help form their shells and skeletons. Plankton and shellfish play an important role in the ocean’s food chain, so when one species suffers, all suffer”(Pittman 2017). When carbon dioxide and the ocean(H2O) combine, they create carbonic acid through this chemical reaction. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “ The resulting increase in acidity changes the balance of minerals in the water. This makes it more difficult for corals, some types of plankton, and other creatures to produce a mineral called calcium carbonate, which is the main ingredient in their hard skeletons or shells”(EPA 2021, May 21). This chemical actually hinders shell growth from aquatic mollusks. Mollusks use their shells for shelter, protection from predators and strong currents, and to help camouflage other animals. Without their shells, this type of marine life is consequently in great danger. Other species like fish are also affected. The fish will try to adjust to the surrounding environment and come into balance with the carbonic acid. This can cause acidosis in fish, when the ph levels in their blood change too(Littschwager 2018, April).
According to the Nation Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, “Certain fish's ability to detect predators is decreased in more acidic waters. When these organisms are at risk, the entire food web may also be at risk(NOAA 2021, February 26). Other species like tuna, marlin, swordfish, and sharks would be affected by deoxygenation from the decreasing amount of oxygen in the ocean. Some animals may be able to adjust to these overtime environmental changes, but oxygen plays a vital role in survival for this kind of life. Because these types of species come in large sizes, they will be forced into increasingly narrow surface layers of oxygen-rich waters opposed to environments with poor oxygen levels(International Union for Conservation of Nature).
The main factor contributing to the harm to marine life is climate change. Climate change is mostly caused by human activity, but can be slowed down or decreased by a few methods. A few ways to reduce climate change are using stopping deforestation, using less energy, and using Negative Emissions Technologies(NET). Cutting down trees worsens the level of CO2 released into the atmosphere. If we start encouraging planting more trees(afforestation), this will restore the balance of producing more oxygen(O2) instead of CO2. Another way to reduce energy use is to use LED lights instead of halogen or incandescent light bulbs. While all of these options provide a light source, the electrical energy in halogen and incandescent bulbs convert into heat rather than light. Also, incandescent light sources contain mercury, and can be environmentally damaging if it is not disposed of properly.
Solar panels, wind mills, and nuclear energy are all ways to conserve energy in your homes and within the community. Things like using cool water instead of warm when washing laundry can help conserve energy. About 75% of greenhouse gas emissions are produced from a single load of laundry that uses energy to warm up the water; but, studies have shown that using cool water is just as effective and that there is no need to use the energy from warming it up. Negative Emissions Technologies help take out CO2 from the air. Technology like solar geoengineering, which reflects the Sun’s energy back into space can help slow down the warming of the earth. One of those techniques are “Direct Air Capture.” Something even as simple as carpooling, walking, or turning off the faucet when the use is not needed can make a major difference not just to our environment, but marine ecosystems and the prosperity of the earth.
Works Cited
As a masters student in the Department of Oceanography at Dalhousie University. “What Is Ocean Warming and Why Does It Matter?” Let's Talk Science, 23 Aug. 2019, letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/stem-in-context/what-ocean-warming-and-why-does-it-matter.
“Climate Change Indicators: Ocean Acidity.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 21 May 2021, www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-ocean-acidity.
“Climate Variability.” NASA, NASA, science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/ocean-earth-system/climatevariability#:~:text=The%20oceans%20influence%20climate%20by,for%20years%20to%20millions%20of.
“Clouds & Radiation Fact Sheet.” NASA, NASA, earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Clouds.
“How Do Clouds Affect Earth's Climate?” NASA, NASA, climatekids.nasa.gov/cloud-climate/.
“Ocean Deoxygenation.” IUCN, 2 Apr. 2020, www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/ocean-deoxygenation#:~:text=Large%20species%20such%20as%20tuna,layers%20of%20oxygen%2Drich%20waters.
The Ocean Portal Team Reviewed by Jennifer Bennett (NOAA). “Ocean Acidification.” Smithsonian Ocean, 20 June 2019, ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification#:~:text=While%20fish%20don't%20have,by%20taking%20in%20carbonic%20acid.&text=It%20can%20also%20slow%20fishes,may%20also%20affects%20fishes'%20minds.
“Ocean Warming.” IUCN, 5 Dec. 2018, www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/ocean-warming.
Pittman, Arianna. “How the Warming of Our Oceans Is Impacting Marine Animals.” One Green Planet, One Green Planet, 29 Oct. 2018, www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/oceans-is-impacting-marine-animals/.
US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “What Is Ocean Acidification?” NOAA's National Ocean Service, 1 Aug. 2012, oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/acidification.html.
