Taking up about 70% of the Earth’s surface, our Ocean is a vital part of the planet’s ecosystem. It provides a home and food source for countless fish, mammals, plants and birds. Despite the challenges facing many marine ecosystems, the vast majority of species call the Ocean their home.
The water of the Ocean circulates around the planet, moving heat from the equator toward the poles through currents. This exchange of heat helps control climate and is important to sea life.
It’s also a vital part of the water cycle, which allows us to drink and grow plants. The water that evaporates from the Ocean goes on to form clouds and rain. This rain falls back over the land and is used by the plants, animals and other living things that need it. Without this water cycle, the planet would be dry and arid.
In addition, water vapor in the air forms clouds that can be blown over the Ocean to create weather. This water carries heat and nutrients from the ocean to the land and back again.
Our Ocean is an essential source of oxygen for all life on the planet. It absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and distributes it to all other areas of our planet, making it a central part of the Earth’s climate.
As the temperature of our planet warms, our oceans are absorbing more heat from the atmosphere, which changes their environment and impacts the creatures that live in them. This extra heat and carbon dioxide change the environment for the millions of plants, insects, fungi and bacteria that rely on the water to survive.
One of the biggest threats our Ocean faces is pollution. Humans contribute a significant amount of pollution to our Ocean through burning fossil fuels, deforestation, sewage and unsustainable fishing practices.
Another major threat to our Ocean is the rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and its effects on the acidity of the water. This is causing the pH of our Ocean’s water to drop, which may have negative impacts on corals, oysters and other shelled organisms that need carbonate ions to build their shells and skeletons.
There is also concern that increased acidity could negatively affect jellyfish populations, which compete with other organisms for food and can eat young fish.
This might not be a big issue in the short term, but it’s worth watching and learning more about.
The number of animals that live in the ocean has been declining steadily since the 1970s. Despite this decline, there are still thousands of species living in the Ocean, and many more are waiting to be discovered.
In the future, we will have to do more to protect our Oceans and ensure that we can continue to enjoy their benefits. In order to do this, we will need to understand the risks and take steps to reduce them. Ultimately, this will help our Ocean stay healthy and productive.