The tale of a clownfish that got lost at sea in the 2003 movie -“Finding Nemo” might just come true to the delight or sadness, it depends how you look at it, for our young marine fans - as rising carbon dioxide levels and climate change could basically leave the fish unable to find their way around according to recent studies.
Now, the world’s oceans soak up vast quantities of carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels. By absorbing the gas, oceans become more acidic. Global ocean PH has already dropped around 0.1 points since pre-industrial times. Just take a moment and think about the condition oceans around the world would be during 2050 or whether marine life would even exist in 2100 if things continue the way it is. Yeah let it sink in. Take your time!
In addition to this, increased storm intensity, coral bleaching and ocean acidity, all associated with climate change affect the coral habitat of the clownfish. These unique species of fish navigate their way around coral reefs by detecting chemical signals in the water. However, the increase in ocean acidity makes it harder for the fish to locate anemones- their protection against predators and also messes with their senses making it harder for them to go about their daily lives.
So in short we have caused the entire problem. You may wriggle out of this situation by crafting a logical answer supporting the fact that you had nothing to do with the acid, pollution or warming causing this heart-breaking catrousphe. But the facts will eventually catch up to you. Every time you catch a cab instead of walking and when you decide to waste paper just because you’re bored you are contributing to this international problem known as “Global Warming”. Catching a cab leads to pollution which leads to emissions causing environmental problems and wastage of paper leads to deforestation which in turn causes more carbon dioxide to remain in the air.
We are not only making life unbearably hard for clownfish but for other species as well. We have to sign up and take a pledge to not just find Nemo but to save him.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Your Response to Q1: The bodies of water on Earth through evaporation enter the atmosphere. Vaporization also happens when plants and animals add water through transpiration. Water vapors gather in the atmosphere creating clouds with condensation. This is when precipitation forms and falls to Earth. After it falls to Earth and gathers back in the ground and bodies of water, the cycle begins again. As all Earth's cycle coincide, heavy amounts C02 are evaporated into the atmosphere due to a tremendous amount of industrial plants. Once evaporated the CO2 is absorbed into condensation and released as precipitation (or what we call acid rain). This is a form of pollution and is not helping the oceans in anyway. This is lowering the levels of pH in the ocean. pH plays a significant role in the oceans ecosystem, in the case of a rapid change in pH levels aquatic life can become stressed or die. Meaning aquatic life is unable to adjust to…
- 1357 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
The church itself is not too unlike other churches in the community, aesthetically it has a warm, inviting appeal to it, not too small, but of a fair size. Reinaldo does not agree with the American versions of the Pentecost, and does not attend a Pentecostal church here in the U.S.…
- 1777 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Climate change’s equally evil twin seems to be ocean acidification. 25 percent of the CO2 dissolves into the ocean instead of being in the air. When the industrial era started over 525 billion tons of CO2 were absorbed (22 million tons per day). Scientists at first thought that we were good because it warms the planet, but that’s not the case. The ocean is becoming more acidic than ever because of the CO2. 200 years later the water temperature increased by 30 percent. Rivers usually keep the ocean stable because they have to carry all of the chemicals, but they haven’t been able to keep up with all of this CO2. As a matter of fact some of these animals’ shells dissolve in this acidic seawater which doesn’t help at all. With…
- 938 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The acidity of seawater is determined by the amount of hydrogen ions in solution , which is then measured on the pH scale. The higher the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution, the lower the pH of the solution. As stated in the previous paragraph, carbonic acid ( CO3-2) releases hydrogen ions ( H+) into the solution. If the sea water absorbs more carbon dioxide and then more carbonic acid will be formed as well. Which means the ocean will releases large quantities of hydrogen ions. Thus lowering the pH of the ocean. “ Ocean acidification: A greater threat than climate change or Overfishing,” reports that since the industrial revolution the pH of the ocean has dropped from 8.2 to 8.1. This change in the pH of water over the past 150 years is the greatest seen over the past several million years. ( Burner W. 2008…
- 1304 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
This sea is predicted as how the oceans of the planet will look like within the next century. The acidification that might happen throughout the oceans of the world is mostly caused by the carbon dioxide emitted from smokestacks and tailpipes. (527) Thirty percent of the carbon dioxide released by man has been soaked in the oceans. Many marine organisms cannot survive in these high carbon dioxide concentrated conditions. The evidence from Castello Aragonese proves that this polluted sea is missing thirty-three percent of marine organisms that live outside the vent system. Another significant organism of the chemistry of the ocean is the coral reef. Coral reefs are essential for the ecosystem of the ocean. Ocean acidification is a threat to their existence. According to Jane Lubchenco, ocean acidification is global warming’s “equally evil twin.” (qtd. in…
- 1197 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Climate change has widespread effects. It doesn't just affect weather and temperature. It will also have lasting effects on the ocean and the ecosystems within it. Coral reefs get hit hard by the temperature of the water getting warmer. “Warming of as little as 1°C causes coral bleaching, a state in which the tissues of the coral become colorless because of the loss of the zooxanthellae”(Hoegh-Guldberg,Donner,pg. 9, par 3). This bleaching can stress the reefs and this can effect important functions of the coral. “Moderate bleaching results in stress that causes reduced growth rates and reproductive output, whereas severe bleaching results in coral death. Bleaching also appears to make corals more vulnerable…
- 678 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
his article was written Chris Eboch, who is a science writer, and it was published in the December 2013/January 2014 edition of the Chemistry magazine Chem Matters, a magazine based in Washington DC, USA. The article is called Global Climate change; A reality check and its aim is to inform the public, particularly high school students, about the damaging effects of global warming on the environment. The author firstly talks about the process of global warming, the gases that cause the greenhouse effect leading to global warming. She then retrospectively looks at how we know that human activities have led to increase in greenhouse gases, and supports her claims with studies. The next section talks about the global warming potential, or the potential temperature that the Earth can rise to due to global warming and accelerate the effects of global warming, such as the increasing average level of the sea. She then moves to talk about what each individual can do to lessen the effects of global warming, and talks about the society's need to reduce carbon dioxide emission and the ways in which to do so.…
- 609 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The procedures are: what to do when the fire alarm goes off, letting seniors know when I am not coming into work and reporting an accident at work.…
- 341 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Warmer ocean temperatures are also now understood to cause coral bleaching. Rising levels of carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas emissions) are also decreasing the pH level of the ocean, known as ocean acidification. Evidence suggests that this will have a profound effect on the entire marine ecosystem.…
- 976 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
This is important to consider because “in the 20th century, the world’s average surface temperature rose by approximately 1 degree Fahrenheit, the fastest rate in any period over the last 1,000 years” (Source A). Although this one degree change may not seem drastic, over the coming years it can dramatically increase the temperature of the earth if the human population does not intervene. This is why regulating the changes in surface temperature is so important to global warming policies. In addition to this, the graph is Source B clearly depicts that the measured ocean temperatures over approximately 150 years, from 1880-2004, have increased rapidly, especially since the mid-1900’s (Source B). This supplements the data from Source A, and clearly interlinks changes in surface temperature to global warming. Lastly, it was show that the “best estimates suggest an average temperature increase of 1.4-5.8 [degrees Celsius and] a sea-level rise in the order of a metre…” (Source E). No matter what the increase is, the fact that the surface temperature on the Earth is increasing is a wakeup call to the human race on how their daily lives are contributing to global warming. Changes in surface temperature are important to consider when making policies that affect global…
- 715 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Ocean acidification impacts marine organisms to varying gradations. For example, photosynthetic algae and seagrasses may benefit from higher CO2 conditions as they require CO2 to live much like plants on land. On the contrary, studies have shown that a more acidic environment has a negative effect on calcifying species, such as oysters, clams, sea urchins, corals, calcareous plankton and many more. When shelled organisms are at risk, the entire food web is also at risk. Currently, over a billion people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as their primary source of protein. Many jobs and economies throughout the world depend on the fish and shellfish in our…
- 634 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
are doing to our environment is not only true, but a hoax made by the Chinese. Not only…
- 413 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In this article, Melker clarifies the aftermath of the dropping pH’s effect on ocean life. The article states that scientists are noticing recent changes on how carbon dioxide is dramatically changing our oceans. Scientists say that ever since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the ocean has absorbed over 550 billion tons of carbon dioxide, and continues to absorb. In recent years, oyster shells have been dying off more and more. The acidity of the seawater is eating away at the oysters’ shells. As acidity increases, shell building organisms have a tougher time extracting calcium carbonate they need for their shells and skeletal systems. Because of this, shells become thinner, there is a slower growth process, and as a result, higher death rates. Although it doesn’t seem as if it would make a big difference, even small drops in pH have a huge effect on the ocean, and the organisms living in it. Acidification is also affecting coral reefs. Shellfish and coral reefs are the building blocks of ocean life. Reefs serve as important habitats for marine life. More than half of the ocean’s fish will live in a coral reef sometime in their life. Shellfish are being affected by the dropping pH as well as other organisms. Shellfish are eaten by many animals, and if they were to die off the food chain would get messed up.…
- 952 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Ocean acidification is hurting many sea creatures in the ocean. It is also hurting the world food chain. Ocean acidification is when carbon dioxide (Co2) is released into the ocean and the saltwater consumes the Co2. Many creatures have trouble living and reproducing when the ph level is low. It is hurting the world food chain because many people rely on sea creatures for food and if they are slowly dying, there won't be enough food in the world to hold all these people.…
- 194 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
One of the most evident examples of climate change seen within nature can be seen the coral reefs. Coral reefs are one of the most divers ecosystems on earth, but are also impacted greatly by climate change. An excellent example of these can be seen by examining the dying coral in Great Barrier Reef. There have been multiple reports on the amount of dead coral, and these reported amounts depend on the regions reported, and vary from 35-93% of the coral is dead. Looking at the entire Great Barrier Reef as an entire system, over 22% of the reef has died, and this percentage is expected to rise further. Marine biologist and climate scientist have nailed down the cause of dying coral reefs to multiple causes, but the two most significant causes have been nailed down to the increase in ocean water temperatures, and the rise of ocean water levels. The NASA data analysis have calculated that global temperatures have increased by a global average of 0.8 ℃ since 1880 resulting in average ocean temperatures to rise. Due to this increase of global temperature, and a change of weather patterns, the polar ice caps have been melting at a rapid rate and have decreased significantly in size. This has caused the average ocean water levels to rise, which in turn increasing the level water above the coral reefs. When the water level increases above the coral reefs, less sunlight makes it down to the coral reef ecosystem. This greatly impacts the coral reef ecosystem, because much of this ecosystem is dependent on sunlight in the form of photosynthesis. Not only does warmer waters directly impact the health of the coral reefs, but it also increases the rate that algae can grow. A common example of rapid growing algae can be seen in the form of Red Tides. Red tides primarily consist of phytoplankton called dinoflagellates, which thrive in warm waters that are rich in nitrogen. These dinoflagellates are known to…
- 1291 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays