We depend on the oceans more than we think. They affect the little things in our lives that we don’t really pay attention to. But that’s what makes the oceans significant to humans. People, simply, cannot survive without the oceans.
Below are the 15 Ways Oceans Affect Your Life. Get to know more about the good and the bad ways the oceans can influence the weather where you live, your food and your health.
Read more:
- Effects of Ocean Pollution on Human Life
- Ecological Importance of Marine Organism
- Common Characteristics of Ocean Ecosystems
1. Supply Oxygen
Many people may think that the trees provide us with oxygen. It’s true but there’s more to that fact. The oceans are also responsible for supplying most of the world’s oxygen to people. They account for around 70% of oxygen that we breathe. The phytoplankton in the oceans act as trees. As a result, they release the oxygen that we need in order to live.
2. Regulate Climate
The oceans regulate the climate that we have on Earth. They can do so through their ocean currents. For instance, the Indian Ocean Gyre can affect Monsoon seasons in South Asia. Oceans can influence how warm or cold a region could be throughout the year. They may also cause sudden changes or bizarre patterns in climate which will affect human activities.
See also: Importance of Ocean for the Global Climate
3. Determine Weather
Besides regulating climate, oceans can indeed determine weather. They may bring in some strong winds or rain. In fact, most rain comes as a result of the phytoplankton in the ocean. The phytoplankton can release gas that will contribute to the formation of rain. Oceans also help to make data for weather forecasting that enables you to plan your day.
Read more: Function of the Phytoplankton in Ocean Ecosystem
4. Natural Disasters
Natural disasters come and go. Some are predictable while some happen without a warning. Disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis and cyclones come from the oceans. Many regions are prone to experiencing multiple natural disasters that are originated from the ocean. These disasters can destroy lives, livelihood and homes.
5. Give Fresh Water
Not everyone on earth is lucky enough to obtain fresh water easily. In some areas, people rely on the ocean. As the ocean holds 97% of the world’s water, they can serve as an alternative source of fresh water. This can be achieved through desalination. People can safely drink water once the salt from the saltwater of the ocean is removed.
Read also: Importance of Ocean in Hydrologic Cycle
6. Supply Food
Another way the oceans affect your life is through food. Oceans supply seafood for humans. People in several countries depend on seafood to fulfil the nutrients that they need. It’s a staple food that is important to many people on earth. Also, some seafood are even considered as a delicacy.
See more: Types of Ocean Fish to Eat
7. Source of Income
The oceans can bring in enough money to help people survive. A lot of people who live near the coastlines depend on the oceans for their livelihoods. They may work in the tourism industry, fishing industry, offshore oil drills and so many more. The oceans have opened up so many opportunities for people to find their income.
8. Leisure Activities
This is a particularly fun way the oceans affect your life. Most of us go to the oceans for leisure activities. We plan trips or spontaneously go to beaches to be happy. Without the oceans, we may never experience the joy of building sandcastles, soaking ourselves in the water or see the corals and marine creatures up close.
Also read: Functions of the Oceans
9. Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emission
Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be a hazard to human lives. The oceans are able to reduce most of the harmful gas by absorbing it. But, they can only do so much. Absorbing too many carbon dioxide will make the ocean acidic and backfire on humans. As a result, people could get diseases or food poisoning.
10. Cure for Diseases and Illnesses
The oceans have the sources in creating medicines or vaccines that can save human lives. This is why marine organisms in the oceans are important to the development of biomedical science. We are on the constant move to find out what could be the cure for cancer or Alzheimer in the oceans.
Read also: Biomedical Importance of Marine Organisms
11. Provide Knowledge
Oceans also affect your life by providing the knowledge that can help you understand more about our world. The knowledge that we have gained can help us in progressing towards a better future. As more and more discoveries are made, we will gain even more valuable insight.
See more: Effects of Ocean Exploration
12. Potential Renewable Energy
The oceans have great potential for renewable energy. Due to the water currents, large amount of power can be generated. This will result in providing electricity to people. This renewable energy is especially helpful in remote areas that are close to the oceans. They can cultivate the oceans to increase the quality of their lives.
Also read: Use of Ocean Currents for Generating Electricity
13. Aid Transportation
Oceans aid transportation from one region to another. This is how we have been commuting since the early years. Transporting across oceans is how we have discovered new lands. Other than that, oceans also help in transporting goods between countries. Ships carry cargos or containers in and out of the ports every day.
14. Economic Development
Oceans can affect economic development. This can contribute to how a society can develop over time. Fisheries, tourism and oil drill can bring great impact to the economy of a region. However, oceans may also affect the economy negatively in case of a disaster or a source depletion.
See also: Solutions to Stop Overfishing
15. National Security
This last part on the way oceans can affect your life is related to national security. The oceans are a part of ensuring the security of the people. Activities that include illegal fishing may cause the country and your life a lot of loss. Other than that, national security is also important in terms of a missile or other weapons that can threaten lives.
Also read:
It’s now clearer than ever that every human life should be responsible for the wellbeing of the oceans. The way we treat the oceans is how the oceans will affect us.