PERSUASIVE RESEARCH PROJECT: EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CHANGES IN WORLD’S OCEANS
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Background
The Ocean body has coverage of about 70% of the planet’s surface and contains over 90% of the inhabitable space for life on Earth. This space still provides an incredible marine ecosystem for various organisms, living, and non-living. About 90% of Planet Earth’s biomass lives in the Ocean (Herr, 11). For a long time, humans have worked towards reaping the resources offered by oceans for their consumption and comfort through transport, communication, sports and recreation, and other forms of business. It is estimated that the marine ecosystem contributes over 14 trillion U.S. dollars’ worth of goods and services in food, raw materials, and nutrient cycling (Harley et al., 228). These efforts of exploiting the resources provided by the marine ecosystem have been significantly boosted by industrial and technological advancements witnessed in the recent past.
Unfortunately, increased use of these advancements has also resulted in environmental degradation through emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide,Methane, Nitrous oxide, and Fluorinated gases (Herr,11). Current scientific evidence projects that increased emissions greenhouse gases due to human activities to the environment are expected to cause significant global climate change in the 21st century (Kennedy.et al, 12). The consequence of this will bring so many challenges to the coastal Marine ecosystem that is already burdened by the effects of human development, land-use change, environmental pollution, and overfishing. This has further been compounded by vast corruption and the coastal environments that have interfered with the ocean ecosystem. This has resulted in the great transformation of the global climate that continues to threaten the Ocean ecosystem. This phenomenon is referred to as Climate change.
Explanation of Key terms used in the study
- Climate change refers to changes in overall weather conditions such as temperature and rainfall over some time.
- Greenhouse gases- These are gases that can absorb infrared radiation (net heat energy) from the surface of the Earth and reradiate it back to the Earth’s surface, thus bringing the greenhouse effect.
- Marine ecosystem- the interaction of plants, animals, and the marine environment.
- Ocean acidification is the reduction of the ph of the ocean over an extended period caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Habitat-the place or environment where an animal, plant, or organism lives and grows.
Purpose
Despite its ecological, economic, and social importance, the ocean body continues to get little attention in global climate research, climate change policy, and implementation plans (Herr, 10). Factors attributed to climate change such as rising sea levels, ocean acidification, changing wind patterns, changes in oceanic circulation, and rise in temperature continue to be a significant concern to the health of human beings and survival of organisms that rely on the marine ecosystem. This has resulted in changes in organism biology, including mortality, reproduction, growth, and behavior, the reduced oxygen concentration in water, and changes in oceanic circulation (Kennedy.et al, 13). There is overwhelming scientific consensus that the coastal marine ecosystem, together with the resources and other benefits it provides are under threat by anthropogenic global climate change (Harley et al., 229).
Because of this severe threat paused by the effects of climate change on ocean bodies and the entire marine ecosystem, there is an urgent need for quick and decisive action to be taken to curb this trend .leaders of industrialized countries that emit more the higher percentage of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere should be on the forefront on doing more to address this issue. Environmental conservationists should also join in this fight through awareness creation and sensitization programs to bring about a collective effort in this process of averting an impending ecological catastrophe.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to bring to the attention of the mentioned parties the seriousness of the situation and stir them to action. The study also explores measures that these parties can take in addressing the issue of climate change.
Limitations of the project
- The factors looked at might not have been exhaustive. Future research should endeavor to capture elements in the study of climate change.
- The call for action by world leaders and conservationists might not be heeded since it is not compulsory.
- The situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic made a face to face interviews harder in the course of data collection.
How does climate change affect Oceans?
Climate change has resulted in reduced habitat complexity. Habitat-forming species such as corals, seagrass, mangroves, salt marsh grasses, and oysters have suffered due to climate change, thereby affecting the lives of other organisms that depend on them. The mass coral bleaching and mortality brought about by increasing temperature levels have resulted in the reduced richness and density of coral reef fishes and other organisms.it is estimated that increased Mangroves deforestation and rising sea levels are going to occur to 10-20% loss of mangrove by 2100 (Gulberg & Bruno, 1526). Sea ice plays a role in the biodiversity of polar oceans. The melting in spring positively influences the bloom of phytoplankton, which favors extreme marine food web. Arctic ice serves as essential habitat for polar bears, seals, and other aquatic organisms that use it for hunting, transport, and reproduction. Melting of the ice in these areas puts these organisms at danger of extinction .the Arctic Ocean, therefore, continues to change at a breakneck pace, and it is estimated that in 30 years, the Arctic will be ice-free in the summer. The loss of sea ice will affect the marine ecosystem and set in motion a cycle that will significantly affect human society. Loss of sea ice is also believed to be the reason for increased reduction of sea-ice algae, notably the Krill that has so far decreased by 21%.many mammals and birds that directly depend on sea ice for predatory, migratory and reproductive survival have also been affected with the population of polar bears expected to reduce by 68% in 2100 as a result of this (Gulberg & Bruno, P 1526).
Arctic sea ice minimum coverage in 1979.
Source: NASA space flight center visualization studio
Arctic sea ice minimum coverage in 2000
Source: NASA space flight center visualization studio.
Climate change has also led to increased prevalence and severity of diseases within the marine ecosystem. This is due to factors like the expansion of pathogens range due to warming, changes in the hosts’ susceptibility to increased environmental stress, and the development of potential vectors. When these were observed, instances include the spread of the oyster parasite perkinsus Marinus across a 550km range northeast of the United States during warming experienced in 1990 and 1991. The red abalone found in California has also been observed to be highly susceptible to rickettsia infection due to increased temperatures (Gulberg & Bruno, P 1527).
Climate has led to increased ocean warming. The ocean can buffer the atmosphere by creating equilibrium between it and the ocean surface concerning heat and carbon dioxide levels. Increased heating leads to ocean warming. As this continues, the water in the ocean expands, leading to a rise in sea levels. If this continues, it is estimated that a mean increase in 05m-0.8m over 1990 levels by 2100 is possible—increased water expansion results in more extreme weather patterns such as storms, increased flooding, and hurricanes. The destructive nature of these weather patterns is expected to increase further, endangering people’s lives and putting the coastal ecosystem at significant risk (Herr, P 13). It is predicted that even if the emission of greenhouse gases and environmental conservation is stabilized now, the effects of the damage done over the past years will still be felt in the form of increased intensity and duration of hurricanes and other storms because the surface of the ocean has gathered more heat energy over the past years (Valdes et al. 1436-1438).this scary but factual prediction goes on to underline the destructive effects that human activities continue to have on the ocean environment.
Hurricane Katrina.
Source: National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA), 2005.
Increased ocean acidity is also another factor of concern. The ocean creates equilibrium between its surface and the atmosphere by absorbing a fourth of the carbon dioxide produced. However, the increased production of carbon dioxide is threatening the life of humans and the marine ecosystem. Dissolved carbon dioxide lowers the P.H. of the ocean leading to acidification. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, surface ocean acidity has increased by 30%, which can double in the next 50 years if no action is taken to curb it (Herr, P 14). Ocean acidification affects ocean physics by reducing sound absorption. This causes ambient sound levels to rise significantly and has the potential to harm marine life with increased intake of carbon dioxide. The ability of the ocean to act as a buffer to the atmosphere decreases. This exposes the human and aquatic ecosystem to be more vulnerable.
Increased ocean acidification decreases marine organisms’ ability to build shells, and skeletal structures also natively impact the reproductive capacity of these organisms, their behavior, and the general physiology. Planktons rely on calcium carbonate in the formation of its protective shells (Herr, 16). However, this shell of calcium carbonate dissolves in acidic conditions, putting the survival possibility of the planktons at risk. This can set in motion a negative effect on the food web, eventually resulting in a reduced fish population. Other organisms that rely on calcium carbonate for skeletal formation such as corals in cold and tropical water.
Ocean acidification process
Source: Herr P 14.
Actions to address the effect of climate change on Ocean bodies.
The adverse effects of climate change can be averted through the joint efforts of the key players for the benefit of the whole globe. They were having looked at how these effects threaten to have devastating effects on human society and the entire marine ecosystem.
Production of clean energy should focus on every developed nation with a high emission of greenhouse gases. Credit should be given to the United States of America, which has taken the lead in producing bioenergy more efficiently while also taking care of the waste products to minimize the pollution impact that these wastes would have had on the environment. This is after Washington DC launched the world’s largest thermal hydrolysis plant. Under thermal hydrolysis, the remaining solids in wastewater treatments are taken through a system that produces energy and natural fertilizers, both of which can further be utilized in various commercial processes with all these happening with a minimal detrimental effect on the environment. Since industrialization is here to stay and has had a positive impact on development and job creation, one cannot reduce manufacturing. Still, the focus should be given in making the process of industrialization clean, healthy, and pollution-free. Other countries with a high greenhouse emission rate should endeavor to join this route of clean energy production.
Targets should be set for atmospheric carbon dioxide to reduce the risk of ocean acidification. World leaders should lead in mobilizing other countries and players in setting both domestic and international targets. For this to happen, there should be coordinated efforts among the critical players in striking a balance between energy supply and demand, together with the emissions from land-use change. This will allow adaptation measures to succeed and help preserve the role of the ocean bodies in human society.
The promotion of research to monitor the carbon cycle should emphasize. This will go a long way in detecting an abnormal balance of atmospheric carbon, which can then allow for corrective actions to be put in place to arrest the situation. Since research needs significant funding, world leaders, and other key players such as the United Nations should have a collaborative plan that ensures funds are readily available for these essential exercises.
There should be increased and sustained efforts in awareness creation on the importance of the environment and pollution. Environmental conservationists should have programs to sensitize the masses on the benefits of conserving the environment. This will arrest activities that have contributed to environmental degradation, such as deforestation, ocean spillage, and proper waste disposal.
Replacement of high carbon coal with low-carbon natural gas should be promoted. Countries that are not in a position to produce natural gas should be supported to reduce the overreliance of fuel, which has contributed significantly to increased carbon emissions.
Recommendations for further studies on climate change.
There is a need to carry out studies on the role of developing countries in the fight against climate change. Most focus has been on the role of developed countries, probably due to their higher production of greenhouse gases. However, there is a need to look more at the part of developing countries. This is so especially in the area of energy and fuel production and use.
Climate change and the population is another area of study that should be looked .with increasing the world population, resources are increasingly getting strained and activities such as deforestation result.
Works Cited
Herr, Galland R. The ocean and Climate Change: Tools and Guidelines for Action.IUCN, Gland.2009.Switzerland.
Hoegh-Guldberg & Bruno, John. The Impact of Climate Change on the World’s Marine Ecosystems. (2010). Science (New York, N.Y.). 328. 1523-8. 10.1126/science.1189930.
Valdes, L Peterson Church & Marcos M. Our changing Oceans: Conclusions of the first international symposium on the effects of climate change on the world oceans –ICES journal of marine science. (2009) 66:1435-1438
Victor, S. Kennedy, Robert, R. Twilley, Joan, A. Cleypas & Steven R Hare. Coastal and marine ecosystem and global climate change: potential effects on U.S. resources (2002)
Christopher, D.G Harley, A Randall Hughes, Kristin, M. Hultgren, Benjamin G miner, Cascade J.B. Sorte, Carol, S. Thornber, Laura, F. Rodriguez, Lars Tomanek & Susan, L. Williams. Impacts of climate change in Coastal marine systems (2006)