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Over the last 20 years many scientists as well as politicians have been arguing back and forth about the affects of global warming on the oceans. Global warming is a gradual increase in the earth and ocean temperatures. What is happening is as greenhouse gases (which are heat trapping gases that are produced by certain plants and by fossil fuel emissions) are put into the atmosphere it depletes the ozone layer that protects the Earth from the harmful rays of the sun. This means that more direct sunlight hits the surface of the planet directly causing the temperature of both the Earth and the oceans to rise.

How does this affect the ocean?

As the more direct sunlight hits the earth it means that this sunlight will also heat up the polar ice caps. This along with a rising ocean temperature will cause the polar ice caps to melt leading to an increase in sea levels worldwide.

This warmer ocean temperature also can have a major effect on countless number of wildlife both in and out of the sea that depends on the current ecosystem for survival. For example polar bears use the Arctic Ice Caps as a hunting ground for seals. As this ice melts it means that their hunting ground is reduced dramatically, leading to a decrease in the number of polar bears. The numbers of coral reefs worldwide are quickly dying at an alarming rate. The rise in ocean temperatures is causing the coral reefs to slow die off since they are unable to survive in the warmer temperatures. This means that countless number of fish and other sea life that depends on theses reefs for food and shelter is slowly disappearing. Meaning that with no home or food for this sea life to live off it could mean the eventual extinction of countless numbers as the amounts coral reefs slow decline. Warmer ocean temperatures can effect swamp lands which are used a barrier to protect many costal areas against the direct force of hurricanes or cyclones. For a swamp to thrive it requires fresh water, as the ocean levels rise this means that the salt water from the ocean reacts with the swamp causing it to slowly disappear. Once this swamp land has been reduced it means that inland areas will feel more of the direct effects of these storms leading to more flooding and destruction of these areas.

Clearly climate change does have an effect on the ocean. As the temperature of the ocean becomes warmer it is causing significant amounts of wildlife, sea life, coral reefs and swamps to face the realistic possibility of disappearing. Once this happens it will have devastating effects on the ecosystem of the planet and modern life as we know it.



Jason Grace
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany

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