What is the danger of climate change depriving
A recent research published in the prominent magazine Nature verified that the ocean’s oxygen levels have reached dangerously low levels. The study draws a convincing connection between the current state of our oceans and that of 14 million years ago.
One of the findings revealed that the quantity of oxygen in the world’s seas has actually fallen by around 2% since 1960. Why? Much of it contributes to global warming because heated water has less oxygen.
This phenomena, according to Nancy Rabalais, professor and head of oceanography and wetland studies at Louisiana State University, can cause changes in marine ecosystems and biodiversity. She emphasised the importance of oxygen concentrations in determining metabolic rates.
Predictions of marine life impact and oxygen concentrations
However, the Nature research is not the only one that predicts what will happen. Another study published in Global Biochemical Cycles in 2018 discusses how oxygen in specific sections of the ocean can concentrate, leaving the remainder with lower amounts between the years 2150 and 2300.
“I don’t think we should wait to see if deoxygenation reverses as the climate continues to warm,” says Anya Hess, a doctorate candidate studying ocean oxygenation at Rutgers University.
The expert further mentions that not just ecosystems but even the ocean food businesses for people will be harmed. This would reduce fishing and, ultimately, pose a direct challenge for the communities who rely on this activity.
As a result, one of the remedies to be implemented, according to Hess, would be to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. According to the expert, the most impacted countries’ public policies may focus on measuring the oxygen in their waters to assist detect trends and forecast biological reactions.
