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A warming plAnet
A warming plAnet
One of the most commonly discussed effects of 20th and 21st century industrialization is the burning of fossil fuels that has led to a rise in global temperatures. These fossil fuels end up in the atmosphere and prevent some heat from escaping. While the difference in average temperature may not seem huge at first, small changes like this can have major, compounding effects. For example, numerous whale species can already be seeing struggling to adapt to the challenges created by global warming (NOAA Fisheries, 2022).
Global Land-Ocean Temperature Index
Data from https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/
North Pacific Right Whales
North Pacific Right Whales
With an estimated fewer than 500 individuals left, human activities have caused the Northern Pacific Right Whale to become an endangered species. Although there are several ways that human activities harm them (like boat strikes as mentioned on the previous page), the most imminent threat to their species’ survival is global warming. They feed primarily on zooplankton whose distribution and abundance is based on sea ice conditions and coverage. Unfortunately, with global warming not only is there less sea ice for zooplankton to grow around, the increase in temperature and change in currents caused by global warming can cause confusion for whales trying to migrate (NOAA Fisheries, 2023).
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Southern Resident Killer Whales
This species of killer whale, native to the Pacific Northwest off the west coast of the United States and Canada, is another that has become endangered due to human activity and global warming. The change in ocean temperatures and river conditions from global warming has limited the chinook salmon population and could even impact their migration patterns making it harder for the Killer Whales to catch their primary source of food. In addition, the increased ocean temperature has a second effect of increasing the concentrations of pollutants from the surrounding environment (NOAA Fisheries, 2022).
A changing ocean chemistry
A changing ocean chemistry
Global warming is not the only major effect of the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. The other major effect is called ocean acidification, a process in which the excess CO2 in the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean at a faster rate than it can buffer leading to a measurable decrease in surface ocean pH levels worldwide. While this affects all species differently (and some may even benefit from it), they are not outweighed by the negative impacts of the species that are hardest hit, many of which are key parts of the ecosystem. This primarily consists of calcifying creatures like some species of plankton, sea snails, urchins, and coral, although many other aquatic species will suffer as well due the changing environment and balance of their ecosystems (Oceana, n. d.).
Correlation between atmospheric CO2, fugacity of CO2 in seawater, seawater temperature, and salinity measured at a station in the Great Barrier Reef
Data from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75293-1
Cause and Effects
Cause and Effects
Flowchart showing the process of ocean acidification
Diagram showing the effects of ocean acidification on coastal ecosystems
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