The impact of the oceans heating up

Though it has taken more time than it should have, countries around the world are finally starting to wake up to the threat of global warming. Though many people still pertain that global warming is a myth, environmental scientists have confirmed that the world is warming. Over the last 100 years, the Earth’s average temperature has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 °C and is predicted to rise to between 1.4 and 5.8 °C by the year 2100.

The earth's rising temperature has had a number of knock on effects on ecosystems around the world, not least the impact of rising ocean water temperatures - which has been described as the “greatest hidden challenge of our generation," according to a new study by The International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

NASA published findings earlier this year that show that July this year was the hottest since records began, and August went on to match it a month later. According to the study by the IUCN, oceans absorb up to 90% of the extra heat that our greenhouse gases trap. This increase in temperatures is having a severe effect on aquatic ecosystems.

In order to retain comfortable environmental conditions, groups of species such as plankton, jellyfish, seabirds and fish are being forced to migrate by up to 10 degrees of latitude towards the north and south poles. This shift of large quantities of amphibious life has a huge knock on effect on ocean habitats and species populations. Shifts in breeding grounds are yet another effect of ocean heating, with reported movements of seabird and turtle populations moving to cooler temperatures already being seen.

The effect is not only limited to ocean life - adjustments in temperature have also had a noticeable impact on aquatic populations in rivers and streams where increases in dissolved oxygen can be caused by heating water (read more about this here).

Whilst the effects on oceanic life are easier to document, authors of the study warn that

"the consequences of these changes decades down the line are far from clear."

Despite this, movements for cleaner energy are sluggish at best and, as the study also points out, “changes in the ocean are happening between 1.5 and 5 times faster than those on land.” This means that we may move past the path of irreparable damage to ocean life a long time before we notice it on land. But what can we do?

The key is to make sure that ocean conditions are not ignored. As the IUCN put it in their study: “The world, perhaps distracted by the bustle of daily issues on land, has been ignoring the impact climate change has been having on the largest living space on the planet – the ocean.

“The ocean lies at the heart of the climate system, and it must now lie at the heart of climate discussions. Through the implementation of the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC, Parties should now consider ocean impacts in the so-called “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) outlining national best efforts towards a sustainable low carbon future. It is now critical to address atmospheric CO2 – the root cause of these and so many other problems – and achieve rapid and significant reductions of what we emit.”

In truth, there is a responsibility for us who are passionate about the environment to raise awareness of ocean warming in both government legislation and public discussion.

It is also important to monitor these conditions and look out for any of the as yet unnoticed repercussions of ocean warming. The more we stay informed of aquatic life and water quality, the better position we will be in when it comes to deciding upon future courses of action, and predicting future events.