Posted: August 14th, 2022
Global Warming and Climate Change: Melting the Marine Life
Global Warming and Climate Change: Melting the Marine Life
The rising temperatures and changing climate patterns associated with global warming present grave threats to marine ecosystems worldwide. As ocean waters absorb over 90% of the excess heat from greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, they undergo measurable increases in temperature (Belkin, 2009). This warming trend drives sea level rise through thermal expansion and melting of land ice, altering coastal habitats. It also disrupts ocean currents and increases ocean stratification, modifying conditions for marine life.
Warming Waters and Rising Seas
Higher water temperatures induce stress for temperature-sensitive species and shift natural ranges of distribution. Many fish, invertebrates, seabirds and marine mammals are migrating to higher latitudes as their preferred thermal habitats shift (Poloczanska et al., 2013). Iconic species like beluga whales in the Arctic and emperor penguins in Antarctica face existential threats from the loss of sea ice (Laidre et al., 2015; Jenouvrier et al., 2014). Rising seas also inundate low-lying coastal ecosystems. Reefs, mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass beds face drowning or erosion without landward migration options (Duarte et al., 2013).
Acidifying Oceans
The oceans have absorbed over 30% of human carbon dioxide emissions to date, causing measurable ocean acidification as CO2 reacts with seawater (Doney et al., 2009). More acidic conditions disrupt calcium carbonate shell and skeleton formation in sensitive species like oysters, mussels, corals and planktonic snails (Kroeker et al., 2013). This threatens not only biodiversity but also livelihoods and coastal protection dependent on healthy shellfish populations and coral reefs. Ocean acidification also alters sensory perception and behaviors of commercially valuable fish (Dixson et al., 2015).
Climate change poses a dire multi-pronged threat to marine life through ocean warming, sea level rise, changing current patterns, and acidification. Urgent global action is needed to transition societies to low-carbon energy and transportation systems capable of stabilizing the climate system within this century. Coastal habitat protection and restoration can also help build resilience for vulnerable species and ecosystems. Further research is still required to fully understand and mitigate climate impacts on the oceans supporting all life on Earth.
Belkin, I. M. (2009). Rapid warming of Large Marine Ecosystems. Progress in Oceanography, 81(1-4), 207–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2009.04.011
Doney, S. C., Fabry, V. J., Feely, R. A., & Kleypas, J. A. (2009). Ocean Acidification: The Other CO2 Problem. Marine Science, 1, 169. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.marine.010908.163834
Dixson, D. L., Munday, P. L., & Jones, G. P. (2010). Ocean acidification disrupts the innate ability of fish to detect predator olfactory cues. Ecology Letters, 13(1), 68–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01400.x
Kroeker, K. J., Kordas, R. L., Crim, R., Hendriks, I. E., Ramajo, L., Singh, G. S., Duarte, C. M., & Gattuso, J.-P. (2013). Impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms: Quantifying sensitivities and interaction with warming. Global Change Biology, 19(6), 1884–1896. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12179
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