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Burning fossil fuels -

Fossil fuels, like coal and oil, are burned to release energy that we can use for things like heating. However, burning fossil fuels releases gases into the atmosphere.

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Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere -

Burning fossil fuels releases gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. While these greenhouse gases trap heat and are essential for maintaining a livable temperature on Earth, too much can lead to global warming and climate change.

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Ocean absorption -

Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere, and a lot of that heat ends up getting absorbed by the oceans. The process helps to regulate the Earth’s temperature, but too much heat absorption can have dire consequences.

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Heat raises ocean temperatures -

If the oceans absorb too much heat, the temperatures rise, and this can cause rising sea levels, changes in weather patterns, and harm to marine life.

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Climate change exacerbates this warming trend -

Climate change intensifies the process of oceans getting warmer due to actions like deforestation, industrial activities, agriculture, and waste management.

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Deforestation -

Without forests to absorb carbon dioxide, the Earth's ability to regulate the climate and keep greenhouse gas levels in check would be severely compromised.

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Industrial activities -

Industrial activities can raise levels of greenhouse gases and pollute water bodies with wastewater containing chemicals, posing risks to aquatic life, diminishing water quality, and endangering human health.

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Agriculture -

Livestock farming produces greenhouse gases; the digestive process of cattle and sheep produces methane. Methane has 21 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide.

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Urbanization -

When cities grow and expand, they change the landscape by replacing woodland, forests, and fields with buildings and concrete. These artificial surfaces absorb more heat from the sun and can raise the temperature of rivers and coastal areas.

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What's next? -

So, now we know why the oceans are warming; but what are the consequences?

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Rising sea levels -

As sea levels rise, floods destroy homes, infrastructure, and businesses. Research shows that land currently home to 300 million people will flood at least once a year by 2050.

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Coastal erosion -

Warmer water strengthens waves, causing the wearing away of the land, cliffs, and beaches along coastlines, resulting in land loss and damage to coastal communities.

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Acidification of oceans -

The ocean’s average pH is now around 8.1 (alkaline), but as the ocean continues to absorb more carbon dioxide, the pH decreases, and the ocean becomes more acidic. This could alter marine food chains and food supply to humans.

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Coral bleaching -

Bleaching occurs when coral gets stressed and turns white because the water it lives in is too hot. Once the coral dies, the reefs rarely come back. The ecosystems on which wildlife and humans depend deteriorate as a result.

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Loss of land and habitat -

As sea levels rise, low-lying coastal areas become prone to flooding. Land that was once livable or usable for farming becomes submerged. Similarly, the destruction of habitats disrupts ecosystems, threatens biodiversity, and leads to species loss.

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Displacement -

Bangladesh, where more than 35 million people live in coastal areas, has been facing devastating storms, floods, drought, and water shortages. One in every seven Bangladeshis could be displaced by climate change by 2050, with an estimated 18 million people fleeing sea level rise alone.

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Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones -

Sea surface temperatures influence the weather we experience on land. Warmer waters fuel more energetic hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons, giving them the potential to deliver more damage if they make landfall.

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Changes in rainfall patterns -

Changing rainfall patterns due to warming oceans can harm crops and reduce harvests if there is too much or too little rain. It also affects water resources for drinking and irrigation.

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Impact on fisheries and marine life -

Warming oceans can disrupt habitats, affect food availability, and make marine life more susceptible to parasites, diseases, and other threats.

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Decrease in oxygen levels -

A decrease in oxygen levels in warmer ocean waters can harm or even kill fish, shellfish, and other organisms, causing devastation to marine ecosystems.

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Loss of polar ice caps and glaciers -

Warming oceans will melt glaciers and polar ice caps, which can have serious consequences for coastal communities and the environment.

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Loss of cultural heritage -

For many communities, their cultural heritage is deeply connected to the land and sea. As coastal areas face threats like erosion and flooding, people risk losing not just physical landmarks but also aspects of their cultural identity.

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Disruption of ocean currents and weather patterns -

The ocean influences global weather and climate by storing solar radiation, distributing heat and moisture, and driving weather systems. If this is disrupted, it can affect temperatures and rainfall and lead to extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and storms.

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Loss of biodiversity -

Some species may try to find cooler water if ocean temperatures increase, while others may perish. This results in reduced varieties of plants and animals living in the ocean, disrupting the balance of marine ecosystems.

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Losing natural defenses -

Coastal ecosystems, like mangroves, coral reefs, and marshes, act as natural barriers that help protect coastal areas from the impacts of natural disasters. When oceans warm up, these ecosystems can become weakened.

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Increased risk of diseases -

Warmer temperatures can stress out marine organisms, weakening their immune systems and making them more susceptible to infections. Altered salinity or oxygen levels can also create favorable environments for disease-causing pathogens.

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Shifts in species distribution and abundance -

Warmer water might make it more comfortable for some species to move to new areas, while others struggle to survive in their usual habitats. These shifts in species distribution can affect the whole food chain.

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Loss of livelihoods - Warmer oceans can affect the availability and distribution of fish and other marine species, making it harder for fisheries to catch enough fish to sustain communities.

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Impact on global food security -

If fish or other marine life can't adapt to changes in ocean temperatures or acidity levels, their populations will decline, posing a risk to global food security.

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Economic losses -

The damage caused to infrastructure by severe storms due to rising water temperatures or floods due to rising sea levels can devastate economies and infrastructure. Rebuilding towns or cities is costly, and damage to hubs of tourism or trade can result in job losses.

Sources: (CNN) (NASA) (BBC) (National Geographic)

See also: Diseases and other hazards that come with floods

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