The ocean is the largest body of water in the world, covering 71 percent of Earth’s surface. It stores and transports a lot of oxygen, and helps to regulate our climate through a transfer of heat from the Sun towards the poles.
Our oceans are made up of seas and bays that contain more than 1.36 billion tons of water, or 96.5% of all the water on the planet. There are five main oceans: the Pacific, Indian, Arctic, Atlantic and (more recently recognized as an ocean) the Southern or Antarctic ocean.
There are many different species living in the ocean, but they all live in unique ecosystems. These ecosystems are made up of different groups of marine animals that all interact with each other to create a healthy environment for living in.
Scientists are constantly studying the ocean, looking for new ways to understand it and to protect it from pollution, damage and destruction. Among the most important challenges facing our oceans today are rising temperatures, acidification and a lack of water.
Oceanographers are working to develop new technologies that can help us learn more about the ocean and how it works. These include a new type of biorobotics device that could let scientists study deep undersea ecosystems and the life that lives there.
Despite this, our understanding of the ocean is still evolving, and more research will be needed to make sure we know exactly what’s going on in our ocean and why it’s changing.
Our oceans are absorbing the carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere, which causes ocean acidification. This is a change in the chemical properties of our seawater, and it’s happening faster than it has in tens of millions of years.
This change in pH is bad for ocean chemistry, because it reduces the amount of naturally occurring alkaline ions, which are essential for keeping ocean water healthy. It also means the oceans are unable to absorb carbon dioxide without undergoing significant changes in chemistry, biology and ecosystem structure.
The effect of ocean acidification is especially pronounced in certain areas where volcanoes bubble up CO2 into the sea, mimicking the effects of human-caused acidification. These places are called ‘natural laboratories’ and they are important for learning how acidification affects ocean life.
There are several natural ways to prevent the ocean from becoming too acidic, but the best way is for humans to stop releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This includes cutting back on our use of fossil fuels, reducing our use of chemicals and taking action to preserve the oceans for future generations.
Our oceans are a vital part of our daily lives, but they’re also a key part of our planet’s climate and a huge source of energy. If our oceans weren’t there, our planet would be much colder and drier than it is now. That’s why we need to do all we can to keep our oceans healthy and happy!