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Global warming has had a huge impact on the oceans and marine life. It has increased the ocean temperature, caused acidification of ocean water and brought about many alterations in the biogeochemistry of our beautiful oceans.
Global Warming Impact on Ocean Currents
Ocean currents flow far and wide and play a significant role in determining the Earth’s climate. Global warming is impacting the ocean currents and this in turn is affecting our climate. The ocean currents are getting weakened due to global warming. As the ice caps melt, fresh water is released into the oceans and this reduces the density of surface water. This makes the water sink down and slows down the current.
Ocean currents bring along various essential nutrients which are necessary for ocean life. Slowing of the ocean currents has resulted in carrying of fewer nutrients. This has disrupted the food chain and is impacting the ocean life badly. The impact is expected to worsen in the years to come as the affect of global warming increases.
Global Warming Impact on Ocean Water Salinity
Research shows that global warming is impacting the ocean water salinity to a great extent. Since the air is getting warmer its capacity to absorb the water is increasing. Hence, greater amount of water is evaporating and this is resulting in high precipitation in many areas.
It has been observed that while the wet areas are getting wetter the dry areas are getting drier. The areas with higher rate of evaporation compared to that of precipitation are getting drier and those with higher rate of rainfall and comparatively lesser rate of evaporation are receiving more rains. This is resulting in the increase in ocean salinity in the parts that are saltier while the parts with fresh water are getting fresher. Melting of ice caps due to global warming is also impacting the salinity of ocean water. It is decreasing the salt content in the water.
Researchers claim that, if the temperature of the Earth’s surface increases further then this will impact the oceans further which in turn will affect the various activities attached to the same.
Global Warming Impact on Ocean Temperature
Just as global warming is increasing the temperature on Earth; it is also increasing the ocean temperature. The ocean water is getting warmer and this is impacting the ocean life immensely. Many species of marine animals are finding it hard to adapt to the changed climate. A number of species of fishes, turtles and other marine creatures have disappeared and many have incurred serious illness due to the increase in ocean water temperature.
The rise in the ocean temperature is also having an erratic impact on the precipitation pattern. Several places on our planet are experiencing erratic rainfall.
Conclusion
Thus, global warming has vastly impacted the oceans. It has affected the salinity of water making it more saline in certain parts and less saline in others. It has impacted the ocean currents to a large extent. It has also raised the ocean temperature which in turn has taken a toll on the life of the marine creatures.