Nina Gonzalez
April 5, 2020
Increasing marine temperatures lead to problems for commercial fisheries because the warm water harms fish. Also, seabirds who feed off of fish have, in recent years, decreased due to the fish population dwindling from the increased water temperatures. According to scientists, in particular biologists, foundational species such as seagrass, coral reefs, and kelp forests have had significant losses. These three support aquatic life because they provide shelter, act as food sources as well as moderators of temperature. Oceans are heat sinks, meaning they can store a large amount of heat. However, every ecosystem has a tipping point, and the oceans are a weather phenomenon called El Nino. They usually happen every few years. However, they thrive off of warm water temperatures. El Ninos causes warmer air, which then, in turn, rises, and becomes clouds.
It was surprising to come across this article because growing up on the ocean, and I had never heard of ocean heat waves before this article. Because of the increased baseline temperatures in the ocean, climate change is happening faster than expected. This relates to the course because it is just another example of how humans negatively impact the environment.
Works Cited:
Pierre-louis, Kendra, and Nadja Popovich. “Ocean Heat Waves Are Threatening Marine Life.”
The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Mar. 2019,
www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/climate/marine-heat-waves.html?searchResultPosition=1.
I like how you are trying to raise more awareness about this problem. As you mentioned, we often think about heat waves as affecting humans. I was aware that climate change is having a negative effect on aquatic ecosystems, but I did not know that the heat waves were as severe as you mentioned. It is unfortunate to hear that fisheries, aqautic ecosystems, and bird populations are suffering.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to realize that heat waves occur in the ocean and hurt a lot of the marine life. I like how you emphasized that this can be detrimental for marine fisherman because it can really affect their income.
ReplyDeleteThis is an important topic to raise awareness for because I don't think many people realize the ocean has heat waves just like we do on land. Recognizing that this threatens the ocean's ecological tipping point is extremely important.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a really interesting topic because it isn't a very well known topic. I never realized how drastically the warming of the water is affecting the marine life and how quickly. I like how you added the point about the oceans ecological tipping point.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting because I didn't think the ocean had heat waves. We need to recognize this threat and learn how to prevent the damage that can be done.
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic that not many people know exists and is something that should be talked about more widely. We often forget that the rising temperatures that affect us all, not only affects land but, our waters as well. Raising awareness on this issue is super important if we plan on taking any action to prevent the problem from growing worse.
ReplyDeleteBringing notice to this topic is very important. Heat waves in the ocean are overlooked and never talked about. People need to be educated that rising temperatures on land also hurt the fisheries and wildlife in the oceans.
ReplyDeleteWow! Very good! I have not heard of heat waves in the ocean so I definitely enjoyed learning about it. You did an amazing job, you should be a journalist! :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you discussed all marine life in this post. It wasn't all about fish or seagrass etc. It was really interesting to read about how this affects humans and the sea.
ReplyDeleteI also have never heard of ocean heat waves prior to your post. Thanks for the new and interesting topic. I like how it incorporated all aspects of marine life as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic. I never knew that oceans could store heat for such long periods of time and that this heat could cause immense problems for the animals living in the ocean. Great job connecting it to some of the issues we talked about in class too.
ReplyDeleteLearned something new today, thank you for bringing light the existence of ocean heat waves. Interesting how it affects all levels of marine life and ultimately human beings.
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