Oceans cover about seventy one percent of the Earth’s surface. Since it covers a vast amount of the planet, it should be obvious that would reflect the health of all living things. By looking at ocean acidification, water temperatures, the change in fish migration patterns, and the importance of oceanic resources, we can see that climate change has and continues to have a negative effect on the world’s oceans. This is important because oceans play a major factor in the global economy, making up a multi-billion-dollar industry, as well as providing food to more than half of the global population (CAS). 

Climate change is the process in which Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other Greenhouse Gases like Methane (CH4) are trapped within the Earth’s atmosphere. Although Earth’s temperature has fluctuated naturally over geologic time, there has been an exponential spike since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, which took place in North America and Europe beginning in the late 1700s-early 1800s. During this time period, fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum and natural gases became the primary mode of energy. Burning these fuels has led to a dramatic increase in both air and water pollution, as the more and more chemicals are released. This has only gotten worse in the past few decades, as cars, planes and other modes of vehicular transportation have become such a big part of everyday life. In the United States specifically, there is a ratio of 2.28 cars per household. Although the transition from handwork to machinery increased productivity, it also started a downward spiral in the environment, and more specifically oceans. Oceans cover approximately seventy-one percent of the Earth’s surface, providing not just a habitat for an endless number of marine species, but also a multi-billion-dollar global industry. The effects of climate change on the oceans can be seen in several different ways, including ocean acidification, sea levels rising, and a change in fish migration patterns due to temperature fluctuation. 

Oceans play a major part in regulating CO2 levels. However, it can take thousands of years to mix the deep seawater with the shallow surface, evenly distributing the gas. In the past 250 years, approximately 28% of the Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere has been absorbed by the oceans (EPA). But with the amount of emissions being put out with the ever-increasing global industries, it is becoming much more difficult to keep up with it. Although it is keeping the air pollution somewhat under control, greenhouse gases are choking the oceans, lowering the pH of the seawater. Tropical waters have been found to have the greatest change in pH, but it is the colder waters that we need to be more worried about. Lower temperature water typically already has low pH, so if it decreases more it could be devastating to the ecosystem. According to Dr. Richard Feely, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, surface water in some areas are now so acidic that it is dissolving the shells of organisms like mollusks, corals and planktons (Kirshenbaum). This is important because these creatures play a vital part of the food chain. Without them, there is nothing providing sustenance for fish and other marine animals that us humans can eat. Acidification is also causing coral reefs to die, or ‘bleach’. “Since coral reefs support twenty five percent of the ocean’s species of fish, this spells widespread trouble” (Kirshenbaum). In the next century, it is expected that 90% of all coral reefs on Earth will die. This would have even worse results since corals are not only an organism in itself, but provide a habitat for countless other species. 

Another product of climate change caused by humans is an increase in water temperature. Naturally, temperatures range from -2 degrees celsius to 28 degrees celsius (MarineBio.org). However, these temperatures are steadily increasing. 2016 was found to have the hottest temperatures since scientists started keeping track in 1895 (Bradford). According to Jon Hare, a director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “the North Atlantic has warmed 2 degrees since 1901.” That may not seem like much, but as a result of that, fish species who typically live in tropic or subtropic areas, have begun to migrate towards the poles, to colder temperature waters. For example, flounder, bass, American lobster and blue crabs. In an article posted by The Daily Catch newspaper, it was said that in coastal towns such as Wachapreague, Virginia, the town’s economy is crashing due to the flounder that they are known for migrating up east to New Jersey and New York. A thriving town is wrecked when their main source of income, fishing, disappears. This is happening up and down the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, and in other regions across the world, and something needs to be done to prevent it. 

Climate change also has caused some damage within the global economy. It is “costing the world more than $1.2 trillion, wiping 1.6% annually from global GDP” (Harvey). Without the oceans, our everyday lives would not be the same. The health and wellbeing of the seas is important to worry about because such a large part of the global economy is connected to it. In the United States, about one in every forty-five jobs is somehow dependent on the ocean’s resources. Whether it is fishing, oil drilling, cargo shipping, recreation… the list is endless. In America alone, it makes up an industry of more than $352 billion, and even more worldwide (NOAA).  Countless products, such as food, medicines and personal care items are all somehow connected to the ocean. In addition to fish, shellfish and types of seaweed, foods that you would not normally associate with the ocean have some surprising ingredients. For example, salad dressing can contain brown algae, yogurt uses agar as a thickening agent, and some cake mixes have kelp in them. Very few foods would be the same if the ocean could not provide these seemingly small ingredients were no more. The drug industry also reaps benefits from the ocean. In fact, “marine invertebrates produce more antibiotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory substances than any group of terrestrial organisms (NOAA). That alone is an important reason why we need to come up with a plan to prevent climate change from destroying the oceans. It is predicted that by the year 2030, “the cost of climate change and air pollution combined will rise to 3.2% GDP,” with lesser developed countries being hit even worse (Harvey).   

There are many ways to work against climate change, from a small personal scale to the global scale. On the personal standpoint, living efficiently is of the utmost importance. This can mean moving into a smaller house, getting an electric car or biking more often, or carpooling places; any way to reduce your carbon footprint. For businesses, making ‘Green Bonds’ is the best way to be environmentally efficient. On a state and national scale, transitioning to a more sustainable energy source, such as solar power is a viable option. Scientists at National Geographic have come up with “A Blueprint for a Carbon-Free America.” This plan is broken up into fifty sections, one for each of the states. Within each state is a breakup of alternative energy sources, based on the geography and climate of the area. For South Carolina specifically, by the year 2050, fifty percent of the state could be using energy from off-shore winds and an additional twenty seven percent could be using solar energy. Some countries including the United States, Canada and China are experimenting with capturing carbon dioxide emissions before they are released into the atmosphere and instead, pumping it deep underground (National Geographic). In my opinion, the most reliable way to reduce the effects of climate change would be to replant forests in areas of deforestation. This would not only provide an abundance of resources in the future, but would also filter the carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and replace it with fresh oxygen. On a broader, global scale, geo engineers are having to step up to the plate and create some new ideas, some of which seem like they would fit in a science fiction novel. The main idea is finding a way of carbon dioxide removal. This could include reforestation, carbon harvesting facilities that suck it out of the air or creating artificial trees with carbon filters. There is currently one solution that deals directly with the ocean. Some scientists are experimenting with sprinkling iron dust particles in areas that have seen dramatic effects. The iron promotes plankton growth, which then boosts the natural processes that take carbon dioxide out of the air. But as of now, none of these alone will be the answer. It will take a combination of all of the above to reverse the effects of climate change. One city or country alone will not be able to do it, but it could inspire others to do the same. If there is going to be a future where humans thrive, someone needs to figure out a solid plan that the whole world and its governments can get behind. 

Even though climate change is being influenced by human activities, there are still those who think that everything has a natural explanation behind it, and that humans should not be blamed or even worry about what could happen. Terry Anderson of the Hoover Institute says that, “Neanderthals survived many periods of abrupt climate change,” a claim based on research done at Penn State University. “If they survived and adapted to abrupt climate changes, surely modern man ought to be able to adapt to long-term changes.”  Another scientist, Joseph Bast, thinks that these changes are due to alterations in the Earth’s orbit and solar changes, such as sunspots. I somewhat believe both sides of the debate, but more strongly with the first side. Climate change is influenced by natural forces, but it is intensified by human actions. The debate should not be just one factor or the other, it is both working together simultaneously. Canadian ecologist Patrick Moore claims that, “there is some correlation, but little evidence, to support a direct causal relationship between carbon dioxide and global temperature through the millennia.” He uses the Ice Ages as backup for his theory. Moore thinks that since there were no humans during the time of the Ice Ages and carbon dioxide levels were ten times higher back then, why should we believe that humans are causing it now? But that is not the point. While that may be partially true, humans are causing the climate change to expedite and are the main factor of it in this day and age. 

Approximately 400,000 people die from the effects of climate change every year, with malnutrition, air pollution and spread of diseases as the leading three. It is hitting especially hard on developing countries (Harvey). According to an article in The Guardian, air pollution alone is killing at least 4.5 million people a year. If there is a way for society to prevent these deaths, we should do everything in our power to do so. 
