Human-induced climate change is particularly problematic in affecting our oceans over the long haul because:
- Oceans are responsible for cooling the planet. Without them, the average temperature would be in excess of 122 degrees.
- Sea level rise is making coastal communities uninhabitable and millions of people will be displaced once islands and coastal communities become uninhabitable. Millions of people mean spending trillions of dollars in repairs, infrastructure expenses and more.
- Industrialization and the burning of fossil fuels cause excessive amounts of carbon dioxide to be absorbed by the world’s oceans, making the oceans more acidic. This process is called ocean acidification, and it means that:
- 22 million tons of carbon dioxide gases are being absorbed by the ocean annually
- The protective shells of mollusks and crustaceans are weakened by the process, making them susceptible to predators
- The ph balance of the ocean changes and produces carbonic acid
- The rugosity of the coral reef structure changes