Evolution and Climate Change in the Oceans
Basic Chemistry:
Oxygen solubility in water is affected by temperature. The lower the temperature, the higher the solubility. At 0 degrees Celsius, a liter of water can hold 10 mL of dissolved oxygen. At 25 degrees Celsius, a liter can only hold 4 mL of oxygen.(Adam)
So what does that mean for us?
As the Earth's climate warms and average water temperature rises, solubility of oxygen in the ocean will decrease. The average surface water temperature is expected to rise 2 degrees during the next 100 years due to human emissions. To put this into perspective, during the end of the last ice age, the average surface water temperature rose 2 degrees over the span of 10,000 years. To find out more about past oxygen levels, see this page
What are some effects of the rising ocean temperature?
Without sufficient oxygen, most organisms struggle to survive. As temperature increases, the metabolism of organisms speeds up, requiring more oxygen. However, as we know, available oxygen decreases as temperature increases. This is observed in eelpouts, whose mortality rates are directly related to temperature and available oxygen.
Many marine organisms are already living very close to their thermal limitation regions, as seen by Dosidicus gigas. Creatures like this have limited options at their disposal if temperature in their habitat rises.
Another effect of rising ocean temperature is the creation of dead zones. Dead zones are oxygen depleted areas that usually occur on coastlines due to human pollution and other factors, such as rising temperature. Most marine life cannot live in these dead zones and even the ones that can are affected by their increase in size. Zooplankton use dead as hiding spots from ocean predators that cannot hunt in them. The zooplankton leave dead zones at night to feed in oxygen-rich waters, but as dead zone size is increasing, their feeding area is getting smaller, exposing them to more predators.
It is important to consider that as oxygen levels are depleted, carbon dioxide levels are rising as well. According to this article, we lose about three oxygen molecules for every carbon dioxide molecule produced because of burning fossil fuels. This clearly shows the impact that human action can have on the environment. As a result of this climate change, many species may struggle to respond and adapt.
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Climate Change
Effects of Climate Change in the Environment
Oxygen Levels
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Comments
jpwares
Sep 26, 2012
Try to generate a descriptive narrative, more like a Wikipedia page with links out, than simply a list of different pages to go to. This documents your effort, but doesn't make a very useful or readable resource for your classmates or folks beyond.