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Ocean Climate Change
by Caroline, Age 11, of Ghana
Posted October 24th, 2007
The rise in sea temperature has a direct effect on sea animals. The
famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia is dying. It has nearly 400 different
species of coral. The warming ocean is becoming acidic and bleaching the
coral, it may not have a chance to recover. 97% of the staghorn and elkhorn
coral is gone from Florida in the Caribbean Sea. Also the Western Caribbean
lost 50% of hard coral. Nearly 16% of the world's coral is dead. White
Beaked Dolphin's are disappearing because they can't get used to warm water and
their prey fish and squid can. Sharks have been seen in Scottish water
that's unusual because they are normally in coastal waters. For the first
time the short snouted seahorse has been found in British Waters, that's
unusual because short snouted seahorses are normally in Mediterranean
waters.
It is not only ocean animals that are affected by climate change.
In fact polar animals are maybe the most affected by climate change.
Walruses are having a harder time finding food now that the ice shelves are
moving. The ice shelves hold the clams they feed on. One of the worlds
largest land carnivores, the polar bear, is drowning because of the melting
ice. In Heard Island, Australia 34 glaciers have decreased by 11%!! Did you
know over the last three decades the Artic sea ice thinned by 43%? The Polar
bear population has dropped nearly 17%. Scientist's think the polar bear
population will drop 30% by the middle of the next century. The Chinstrap
penguins are moving into Adelie penguin territory because of the rising
temperatures.
The populations of seals are dropping because polar bears are
using them as their main food source. Polar animals may not become extinct,
but life of the Bering Sea is not that lucky because a bit of the Bering Sea
life is at risk of extinction. Some examples are Kittlitzs, Murrelet, Northern Pacific Right Whale, Northern Sea Otter, Rougheye Rockfish, Northern Fur Seal, and Yellow-billed Loon.
It is not possible to make new homes for sea animals
that can't live in warm water. They have to find or make new homes on their
own. For example, sea lions in Alaska cannot be moved to another place or to
a zoo, they need to find a good place to live on their own. Some sea animals
will get used to climate change but some will not. Like in the Big Ice Age,
polar bears got used to it, but mammoths couldn't so they became extinct.
Ocean climate change isn't that bad for some sea animals. The
pacific salmon is increasing in numbers. The common dolphin that loves warm
water is also growing in population.The sea temperature has been rising, and
the coral bleaching. The polar bears drowning, and most of the Bering Sea
life at risk of extinction. Humans started climate change and can help stop
it.
Here are 5 things anyone can do:
- Turn off a light when finished using it.
- Take some cold showers instead of always hot showers.
- Recycle and reuse.
- Don't put an A.C. on when no one is in the room.
- Try to carpool or walk.
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