The warming of the oceans, what can it do to us? It’s more fun for swimming, right? In fact, when the planet heats up (I’ve been told it does!), it’s the ocean that stores 90% of the energy received. And the consequences are not really happy…
That the temperature of the ocean is increasing may, at first, seem trivial. But only at the start… To make you aware, I am going to talk to you about three major consequences that have a direct impact on us humans. I’m pretty sure you won’t guess all three.
The ocean absorbs excess energy
Did you know that the oceans absorb 93% of excess energy on Earth. Why that ? Because the oceans cover 71% of the surface of the planetthat they have a depth of 4000 m on average and that the density of water is greater than that of air.
That’s why the oceans have a much greater heat capacity than that of the atmosphere, which only absorbs 1% of the excess energy on Earth.
The oceans are warming up on the order of a tenth of a degree on the surface. An increase of a tenth of a degree does not seem like much – barely enough to make our swims more enjoyable.
But this increase in surface temperature as well as that of the depths (more important) have consequences that are both important and dramatic.
Consequence 1 – Marine Biodiversity
The warming of the oceans has a direct impact on marine biodiversity. When the natural habitat of all these species of fish and algae is turned upside down, marine life either adapts or it disappears. This is the case of Coral reef that global warming is destroying at a record rate.
Warming also has an impact on the dissolution of oxygen in water. This is because warmer water has a harder time dissolving oxygen.
The warming of surface waters tends to reduce the amount of oxygen sent to “intermediate” waters a little deeper. These waters, deprived of oxygen, become uninhabitable for certain species.
Of course, not all species react the same way. The warming of the oceans favors, for example, the development of certain pathogenic agents and favors the proliferation of toxic algae. Top !
The increase in ocean temperature also has a major consequence outside the water.
Consequence 2 – Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons
The first thing to understand is: How does a cyclone form? For one cyclone develops, the ocean temperature must be above 26°C in the first 60 meters to allow intense evaporation and moisture transfers from the ocean to the atmosphere.
It is for this reason that cyclones weaken rapidly by penetrating inland, where they are no longer supplied with hot water.
It is therefore the ocean temperature which creates cyclones and which increases the speed of movement of air masses. A warming of the ocean should therefore give no more cyclones (although, honestly, this has not been verified by the numbers) and more violent.
And here is the last consequence that we do not often think about.
Consequence 3 – Rising water level
The volume of ocean water expands due to the rise in temperature.
At equal quantity, hot water occupies a larger volume than cold water. Thus, under the effects of the excess heat stored by the oceans global sea level is rising.
It is therefore a important consequence for the regions coastal areas, although this is not the only cause of sea level rise.
Read also:
2°C, what does it change for the planet?
A little greenhouse cocktail?
The tree will fall (deforestation is in full swing)
The oceans are warming up, so what?
Acting for the environment takes time…
In conclusion, theincrease in ocean temperature has consequences for marine biodiversity, cyclones and water levels. It may still seem a bit abstract, especially if you live in the middle of a continent.