CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON
OCEANS
Abstract
Climate change is having profound and far-reaching impacts on the world's oceans. From
rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification to rising sea levels and disruptions in marine
ecosystems, the ocean's health is being compromised at an alarming rate. This paper explores
the key impacts of climate change on the oceans, drawing on scientific research and expert
insights to highlight the challenges facing marine biodiversity, coastal communities, and
global weather systems. By examining these effects, it becomes clear that both environmental
and socio-economic consequences are intertwined, with human populations, particularly
those reliant on marine resources, being particularly vulnerable. This paper also discusses
potential strategies for adaptation and mitigation to safeguard ocean ecosystems and the
livelihoods of people who depend on them.
Introduction
The oceans, covering approximately 70% of the Earth's surface, play an integral role in
regulating the global climate, supporting biodiversity, and providing resources and
livelihoods for billions of people. However, with the escalating effects of climate change, the
oceans are facing unprecedented challenges that threaten both marine life and human
communities. As global temperatures rise due to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere, the oceans are absorbing much of this excess heat, leading to a series of
environmental changes that impact marine ecosystems and weather patterns. These changes
include warming sea temperatures, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and shifting marine
species distributions.
This essay aims to examine the primary impacts of climate change on the oceans, drawing on
insights from scientific reports, academic literature, and renowned books that explore the
relationship between climate change and ocean health. Through this exploration, the essay
will address the immediate and long-term consequences of these changes and discuss the
potential for adaptive strategies and mitigation efforts that could protect ocean ecosystems
and human communities.
1. Rising Sea Temperatures
One of the most direct effects of climate change on the oceans is the increase in sea surface
temperatures. Since the late 19th century, the average global ocean temperature has risen by
approximately 0.13°C per decade, with some regions warming even faster (IPCC, 2019). As
more heat is absorbed by the oceans, it disrupts marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs,
which are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Coral bleaching, a process where
corals expel the algae living in their tissues due to heat stress, is becoming more frequent as
sea temperatures rise. This phenomenon leads to the loss of vibrant coral ecosystems that
support a vast array of marine species.
David Wallace-Wells in The Uninhabitable Earth (2019) highlights that warmer oceans are
also contributing to more intense tropical storms and hurricanes. As sea surface temperatures
increase, the energy available for these storms grows, making them more powerful and
potentially more destructive. This is a significant concern for coastal regions, where both
human lives and infrastructure are vulnerable.
2. Ocean Acidification
Because of human-driven increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,
there is more CO2 dissolving into the ocean. The ocean’s average pH is now
around 8.1, which is basic (or alkaline), but as the ocean continues to absorb
more CO2, the pH decreases and the ocean becomes more acidic.
Impacts of ocean acidification on shell builders
Ocean acidification is already impacting many ocean species, especially
organisms like oysters and corals that make hard shells and skeletons by
combining calcium and carbonate from seawater. However, as ocean
acidification increases, available carbonate ions (CO 32-) bond with excess
hydrogen, resulting in fewer carbonate ions available for calcifying organisms
to build and maintain their shells, skeletons, and other calcium carbonate
structures. If the pH gets too low, shells and skeletons can even begin to
dissolve.
Ocean acidification impacts on fish and seaweeds
Changes in ocean chemistry can affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms
as well. The ability of some fish, like clownfish, to detect predators is decreased
in more acidic waters. Studies have shown that decreased pH levels also affect
the ability of larval clownfish to locate suitable habitat. When these organisms
are at risk, the entire food web may also be at risk.
3. Rising Sea Levels
As the climate warms, polar ice caps and glaciers are melting at unprecedented
rates, contributing to rising sea levels. The IPCC Special Report on Oceans and
Cryosphere (2019) predicts that global sea levels could rise by up to 1 meter by
2100, with the potential for even higher increases if ice sheets in Antarctica and
Greenland continue to melt at an accelerated rate. Rising sea levels are already
causing problems for low-lying coastal regions and small island nations, which
face increased flooding, coastal erosion, and the displacement of populations.
Elizabeth Kolbert, in The Sixth Extinction (2014), discusses how rising sea
levels are leading to the loss of critical coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves
and wetlands, which serve as buffers against storms and provide important
habitats for marine life. The loss of these ecosystems leaves coastal
communities more vulnerable to storm surges and flooding. In addition,
saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources exacerbates the challenges faced by
these communities, further threatening food and water security. Sea-level rise
has accelerated in recent decades due to increasing ice loss in the world’s polar
regions. Latest data from the World Meteorological Organization shows that global
mean sea-level reached a new record high in 2021, rising an average of 4.5
millimeter per year over the period 2013 to 2021.
4. Changes in Marine Life Distribution
Rising temperatures increase the risk of irreversible loss of marine and coastal
ecosystems. Today, widespread changes have been observed, including damage to
coral reefs and mangroves that support ocean life, and migration of species to
higher latitudes and altitudes where the water could be cooler.
Latest estimates from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization warn that more than half of the world’s marine species may stand on
the brink of extinction by 2100. At a 1.1°C increase in temperature today, an
estimated 60 percent of the world's marine ecosystems have already been degraded
or are being used unsustainably. A warming of 1.5°C threatens to destroy 70 to 90
percent of coral reefs, and a 2°C increase means a nearly 100 percent loss - a point
of no return.
5. Impact on Human Societies
Communities around the world rely on fishing and other marine activities for a
source of income. In other words, their lives and livelihoods depend on the ocean.
When climate change alters the ocean’s temperatures, it can change the
distribution of fish and other species. This can have a major impact on vulnerable
coastal communities.
Climate change can exacerbate the problems already faced by coastal
communities, including shoreline erosion, flooding, and water pollution. Many
communities are already facing increasing threats to their livelihoods due to these
issues, and they can’t afford for their livelihoods to be in further jeopardy due to
rising ocean temperatures and changing species distribution.
In addition, climate change contributes to rising sea levels as ocean ice continues
to melt. Rising sea levels will only heighten the flooding and damage these
communities face. They also increase the flow of saltwater into important
freshwater sources. Lastly, rising sea levels degrade and destroy key wetlands and
marshes, which provide water quality protection, natural flood water storage, and
a reduced risk of erosion from surface water, in addition to serving as wildlife
habitats.
Supporting community conservation and management enables them to create
climate resilient seascapes that enable animals and people to thrive. By supporting
them to adapt sustainably to climate change, we also support the capturing and
storing of CO2 from the atmosphere.
Conclusion
Climate change is causing significant and accelerating changes in the oceans, with far-
reaching consequences for marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and human societies. Rising sea
temperatures, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and shifting species distributions are all
contributing to the degradation of the world's oceans. These changes not only threaten marine
life but also jeopardize the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on the oceans for
food, income, and protection from storms. Addressing these challenges requires urgent global
action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement sustainable fisheries management, and
restore and protect marine ecosystems. By doing so, we can help safeguard the health of the
oceans and ensure a sustainable future for both marine life and humanity.
References
Wallace-Wells, David. The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming.
Tim Duggan Books, 2019
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-
acidification
Kolbert, Elizabeth. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. Henry
Holt and Company, 2014.
https://ena.etsmtl.ca/pluginfile.php/1474194/mod_folder/content/0/02-
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impacts#:~:text=Loss%20of%20marine%20biodiversity,a%20point%20o
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International Fund For Animal Welfare : How climate change impacts the
ocean
https://www.ifaw.org/international/journal/climate-change-impact-ocean
Fourth National Climate Assessment, 2018.
IPCC Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate,
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