Polar bears are going hungry because, as sea ice melts, it means they have less area to hunt and find food.īut the problem goes way beyond polar bears. You’ve likely seen images of desperately hungry polar bears, which have become symbolic of the impacts of climate change. The melting of sea ice at both the Arctic and Antarctic regions is a well documented result of our warming planet. The more acidic the ocean is, the harder it is for shell-making species to build and maintain their shells - in fact, if acid levels get too high, their shells and skeletons can even start to dissolve. The acidification of the ocean is already causing big problems for many species that call the world’s seas and oceans home - but particularly so for organisms that make hard shells and skeletons, like oysters, corals, and tiny sea snails called pteropods that are a vital part of the ocean food system. In the 250ish years since the Industrial Revolution began, the acidity of the ocean has seen a 30% increase. The ocean absorbs around 25%-30% of the world’s annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which helps mitigate the impacts of climate change, yet at the same time causes seas and oceans to become more acidic. Ocean acidification, which is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is a major threat to the world's oceans and marine life. In fact, according to WWF, over the past three decades, the world has lost half of its reefs - the result of a combination of harmful fishing practices, polluted water, development of coastal areas, shipping, and, of course, climate change causing ocean warming.Īs highlighted by the UN Environment Programme, every one of the world’s coral reefs could bleach by the end of the century if the water continues to warm at current rates. The severity of the issue is made even worse by more frequent and intense marine heatwaves, resulting in mass die-offs of species like coral reefs. Warming oceansĪs global temperatures continue to rise, the impact on marine life is becoming increasingly evident, with the warming of our oceans leading to disrupted ecosystems, changes in behavior, and even decreased reproduction among sea life. Read on to discover some of the ways that climate change is having devastating consequences for the world’s oceans and seas, and their inhabitants.
0 kommentar(er)
