“Our ocean is changing,” the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) wrote while sharing shocking details on impact of green house gases.
The impact of climate change is prominent in our day-to-day lives. From unbearable heatwave to frequent climatic events including cyclone, flood, humanity is facing the result of rapid urbanization and industrialization. Every element of the nature is facing this impact. Recently, NASA shared a video highlighting shocking change in ocean temperature, which we will be discussing in this article.
The greenhouse gases (GHGs) badly impact water bodies across the globe. While sharing scary visualisations, NASA wrote: “Our ocean is changing. With 70% of the planet covered by water, the seas are important drivers of Earth's global climate. Yet, increasing greenhouse gases from human activities are altering the ocean before our eyes. NASA and its partners are on a mission to find out more.”
The visualisation of changing sea surface temperature was established by Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II (ECCO2) model. NASA pointed on the impact of human activities behind this.
“Rising greenhouse gas concentrations not only warm the air, but the ocean, too. Research shows that around 90 percent of the excess heat from global warming is being absorbed by the ocean. Ocean heat has steadily risen since measurements began in 1955, breaking records in 2023. All this added heat has led to more frequent and intense marine heat waves,” NASA wrote in the recently published blogpost.
Usually, cyclones or hurricanes take place when ocean temperature rises. The frequency and intensity of cyclone is directly linked rise in ocean temperature. As it is increasing rapidly, multiple eyes of the storm can form leading to intense cyclones. This is also associated with sea level rise.
The rise in ocean temperature, not only impact the cyclone formation, it also increases risks of marine biodiversity loss. According to NASA blogpost: “Carbon dioxide and heat are both absorbed by the ocean as greenhouse gas levels increase. When carbon dioxide is dissolved in the ocean, the water becomes more acidic. This makes it harder for corals and some other marine life to grow shells and protect themselves. Marine heat waves are complicating the matter by making it too warm for many corals to survive. When corals are stressed from changes in their environment, they turn white, or bleach.”
The recent coral bleaching incident in Lakshadweep was primarily due to rise in ocean temperature.
“El Niño occurs when the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become warmer than normal,” according to NASA. This periodic warming of ocean water often contribute to long-term global warming. The heatwave in 2023 was primarily due to El Niño.
Since the beginning of 21st century, the emission of GHGs have increased. Industrialization and urbanization are the key factors behind this. Emerging economies are contributing largely to this emission rate. Although the nations have agreed to reduce GHGs, there's long way to go to achieve zero carbon footprints.
The NASA images are the data collected in first decade of 21st century. Now, the rate of ocean water warming is expected to increase further. The only solution is adopting green infrastructure, from planting more trees to using electric vehicles.
