Impact of Global Warming on Marine Life

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Impact of Global Warming on Marine Life
Earth is rapidly warming, from North to South Pole and this is significantly
influencing the life under oceans. Since the year 1907, the average surface temperature
globally has increased by more than 1.7°F and this is even more in the Polar Regions
(DeLong et al.). These impacts of the rising temperature are experienced by each and every
single living beings in the earth, be it humans, land animals or marine. The heat is melting the
sea ice and the glaciers and is also shifting the patterns of precipitations. With the same, is
also setting the innocent animals on the move. This paper is going to elaborate on examining
one of the key issues of global warming and that is- the impact of this global warming on the
marine life.
Global warming is the increase in the average atmospheric temperature of planet earth
that results in corresponding climatic changes. Today, it has become a growing
environmental concern for many. It is basically the result of high emission of greenhouse
gases like methane and carbon dioxide, from the industries and agriculture from the mid
twentieth century to (Trenberth et al.). It is to note that the high emission of greenhouse gases
that are released in the atmosphere forms a shield around the earth and then, traps the heat
and create general warming effect and oceans are the most vulnerable area. Oceans are the
most affected ones by global warming. According to Constable et al., rise in the air
temperatures influence the physical nature of the oceans and this directly effects the marine
life. As the temperatures of the air rise, the water becomes less dense and at the same time,
this separate the water from the nutrient filled cold layer present below. It is the basis for a
chain effect that influence all the marine life, which counts on such nutrients for the survival.
During the 1950s, the things were not so much deteriorated as they are today. Not
only is the surface temperature of earth rising with the passing years, the ocean animals are

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also badly affected. Most of the sea animals are going extinct presently and there are many
who are endangered. It is just that one cannot see what is happening under the sea and
therefore, not much is being done regarding the devastating impact of global warming on the
sea life. According to Keeling et al., marine animals are the most significant part of sea life
there is. They depend on smaller tropical fishes for their source of food and apart from this,
they do not have anything else to consume. At present, the sea life about which humans are
most concerned are the marine life that are closest to the Poles, particularly the arctic pole,
where there are huge numbers of polar bears, leopard seals, who are rapidly losing their
habitats due to the melting of ice and rise in the sea levels.
There are several marine animals who are forced to live out of their natural habitats
and migrate to find a new home to survive. It is particularly true for the cold water and salt
water species. They are highly on the move in search for colder and deeper water for being
able to survive. With the same, it is also to mention that as per Spalding and Brown, many of
the coral reefs are going through a phase of bleaching due to the influence of global warming.
Muller-Parker, D’elia and Cook in this context have claimed that “the ocean temperatures is
increasing to more than what the corals could actually handle, they are expelling their algae
and are showing white skeletons”. This is also known as bleaching. Apart from this, it is also
to mention that the coastal wetlands, the mangroves and the sea marshes are rapidly
becoming highly vulnerable to harm and destruction. It is not only due to the increasing sea
levels, instead it is due to the droughts that are taking place all around the world.
It is to note that there are a total of two main causes of global warming. Firstly, it is
the fact that there are several man made coal burning plants that are making electricity. While
human beings are burning coal for generating electricity, this releases carbon dioxide into the
earth’s atmosphere and this causing too much warming. Secondly, it is the mode of
transportation. Today, human use different mode of transportation and majority of them use