When one looks at our planet from space, they can't help but notice all that water. Most of that water is in the form of oceans. The world's oceans are a magnificent wonder and a treasure trove of life. We now know more about what lies beyond our planet more than we know about our own oceans. The seas are filled with immense and unique forms of life, with some even surviving in areas previously thought inhospitable. Some of the greatest biodiversity on this planet, occurs within the coral reefs, the jungles of the water.
The world's oceans also act as the canary in the coal mine. The stability of climates and marine life is dependent on a stable ocean. It has a narrow set of parameters with which life, as humans have been familiar with the last several millenia, depends. If it warms too much, or gets too polluted, many feedback loops could develop causing severe changes in climate, trade winds, currents, and marine life. One cause of global warming, is a warming ocean. The oceans have been warming for some time now, and events such as the migration of Australia's seaweed forests are testaments of the fact that we are leaving the parameters with which we are familiar.
While seaweed forests migrating to cooler waters may not seem like much of deal, just think of losing the great temperate rainforests of British Columbia. There is a lot of life contained within these seaweed forests, and when it is forced to leave, a great deal of life (and livelihood for some) leaves with it as well. Ocean life is very fussy, and marine scientists have already seen alarming drops in biodiversity. The evidence being witnessed by these marine scientists all over the world are just precursors to the inevitable and prolonged instability of the oceans unless we cut back on pollution both to the air and to the water. If we curb global emission of greenhouse gases, we can prevent the oceans from warming further, and if we reel in the vasts amount of pollution we still let into the world's oceans, we will give marine life one less thing it needs to worry about in its struggle to survive. Dead oceans equals dead lands, so it's up to us to make sure our oceans don't die out.
The world's oceans also act as the canary in the coal mine. The stability of climates and marine life is dependent on a stable ocean. It has a narrow set of parameters with which life, as humans have been familiar with the last several millenia, depends. If it warms too much, or gets too polluted, many feedback loops could develop causing severe changes in climate, trade winds, currents, and marine life. One cause of global warming, is a warming ocean. The oceans have been warming for some time now, and events such as the migration of Australia's seaweed forests are testaments of the fact that we are leaving the parameters with which we are familiar.
While seaweed forests migrating to cooler waters may not seem like much of deal, just think of losing the great temperate rainforests of British Columbia. There is a lot of life contained within these seaweed forests, and when it is forced to leave, a great deal of life (and livelihood for some) leaves with it as well. Ocean life is very fussy, and marine scientists have already seen alarming drops in biodiversity. The evidence being witnessed by these marine scientists all over the world are just precursors to the inevitable and prolonged instability of the oceans unless we cut back on pollution both to the air and to the water. If we curb global emission of greenhouse gases, we can prevent the oceans from warming further, and if we reel in the vasts amount of pollution we still let into the world's oceans, we will give marine life one less thing it needs to worry about in its struggle to survive. Dead oceans equals dead lands, so it's up to us to make sure our oceans don't die out.
No comments:
Post a Comment