The large amount of what we called as the greenhouse gases or emissions has caused the eater of the world, Global Warming. Not only affecting those who live on the ground, it also gives a huge deal to the ocean and the life underneath. Based on the Fifth Assestment Report from IPCC, it’s known that the ocean has taken about 93% of those emisions since the ‘70s. The result of this absorption is the ocean temperature that slowly rising through years.
Based on the data served by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA, the temperature has been rising for about 0,13°C per decade through the past century. This ocean warming can cause those concerning phenomena like large amount of ice melting and also the expansion of sea water that flooding the entire nearby areas. But aside from those, there are some more concerning disastrous effects of global warmings on ocean temperatures, such as:
1. The destruction of ocean ecosystem
The first effect that is given by global warming is the death of ocean ecosystem. This is a very concerning problem from the global warming in ocean levels. With the water temperature rapidly rising, it may lead to the death of ocean ecosystem entirely. Based on the report by IPCC back in 2013, the ocean ecosystem will hotter. The temperature forcasted for 2100 is about 1 to 4°C hotter than current temperature, that if the condition is constant. With all the growing industry, business, also global population, the global warming would likely to get worse.
With the destruction of sea ecosystem, humans will also suffer from the worsened condition. Economic loss, spreading diseases from infections, and possible extreme disasters are only some of many.
2. Lots of sea animals will lose their breeding territory
The rising ocean temperature can make a lots of sea animals go extinct. This due to the loss of breeding territory, so the high level of mortalities is highly possible. Without having a suitable breeding location, animals will be having a hard time to maintain the population. Especially for those endangered species in the indian ocean. They will likely to go extinct if the condition’s not changed for a long period of time.
3. The Coral Bleaching
The coral bleaching happens when the algae-like-protozoa called zooxanthellae expelled from the coral polyph. There’s a symbiotic relationship between those two. The corals need their zooxanthellae for photosynthesis. Zooxanthellae receives the materials needed to do so, like amount of ammonium and carbon dioxide.
While the sea temperature keeps rising, the coral polyph will expel the zooxanthellae, creating a death white color. Thus, the coral is “bleached”. The bleached corals will live for some period of time, but after some time, they will perish.
4. Affecting nearby inhabitants
Aside from the effects of global warming in ocean salinity, the ocean warming also affect the life of nearby inhabitants who live around maritime areas. Those people depend a lot from the ocean. Mostly, they work as fishermen, gaining economic value through aquaculture and fisheries. The beautiful tourists destinations can also give them some income for the village development.
If the ocean warming keeps getting worse, all of these will possibly gone. It’ll bring a chain effect that can affect the life of those people directly. While the ocean is dying slowly, they also feel the same thing.
5. Possible loss of global economy
One of the disastrous effects of global warmings on ocean temperatures is the possible loss of global economy. The ocean is surely rich. The business like fisheries or aquaculture is the main source of income for millions people around the globe. With the sea condition worsened, it’s highly possible that they may lose their income due to the food security and low fish distribution.
Based on IUCN’s Issues Brief on Ocean Warming, the economic loss is estimated ranging from 100 to 100.000.000 dollar world wide. This is surely a huge problem.especially for the maritime countries.
6. Dead fishes may cause serious diseases
It’s stated above that the ocean warming may cause mass extinction of sea animals due to the destruction of the ecosystem. The spread of marine species will be increasid, thus bringing danger to the humans. Infection is what may we fear from the impact of global warming on marine life. The infected animals that we usually consumed may deliver some dangerous diseases through direct consumption.
Consuming the animals that have been exposed to the ocean warming is really dangerous. The infection can give serious health effects that will spread around the world.
7. Causing another extreme disasters
The ocean warmiong can also cause some extreme disasters to occur. The rising level due to the ice melting phenomenon can make so many people in low land areas in the Pacific Ocean lose their homes. More severe hurricanes have a high possibilty to occur as well, and floods will likely happen.
In order to save the Earth, our dearest home, we may do several ways how to reduce global warming effects. Some examples are first limiting the gas emision level by implementing the mitigation targets from Paris Agreement, then restore and protect the damaged ocean ecosystem. Repairing and maintaining can bring them back, as long we have the will to do it.