Global warming has a multiplier effect and one of the elements that will significantly experience climate change is the ocean. The temperature of the ocean carries much sensitivity to the ocean life that inhabits it. Land temperature is quicker to show changes due to climate change and the ocean takes longer to reflect those changes. However, even the slightest change in temperature can have an effect to certain species. Sea temperature rise is a serious concern to environment scientists and ocean life is faced with threat.
There are natural climate changes and man-made climate changes also known as anthropogenic . Most climate change is due to human industrialization. Because there are so much greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the earth temperature rises. In the ocean, any change of temperature can immediately affect sea life. According to the National Geographic, coral could be the most susceptible to climate change with varying ocean temperatures. “There is evidence that reefs will bleach (eject their symbiotic algae) at even a slight persistent temperature rise” . Because of this occurrence, coral is exposed to more disease and bacterial infection. In fact, the entire ocean will be more susceptible to disease due to the increasing temperature as warmer temperatures breed bacteria.
In conclusion, the ocean doesn’t just face stronger storm surges or polar cap melting but also faces the threat of dying ocean life that eventually may cause extinction. The warm sea rise may not strike immediately but because these warming occurrences are mostly occurring through man-made operations, sea life is not equipped for this type of evolution.
