19/10/2017
This chapter examines the impact climate change has on coastal areas and marine life.
According to journalist Shereen Ali, a World Wildlife Fund
report released in April 2015, valued world ocean assets at US$24 trillion—with
an extra US$2.5 trillion per annum from the goods and services generated from
coastal and marine environments.
For instance, in Caribbean islands such as Jamaica, Dominica and Tobago, coral
reefs are known as great tourist attractions which in turn brings revenue into
the country. Additionally, the reefs protect the islands from strong storm
surges. However, due to the rise in temperatures, melting of glaciers and a
rise in sea levels, these reefs cannot thrive as they require shallow water for
sunlight to penetrate. Therefore, as storms hit these islands, those that once
had a strong protective coral barrier now has a weak one or none at all. The countries
also lose out in “sun, sea and sand” tourism as the beaches are now being
destroyed due to flooding of the coastal areas. Consequently, jobs in the tourism industry
are lost.
Moreover, climate change also affect marine life.Warmer temperatures and more rain water, triggers a chain reaction of lower oxygen and high levels of nutrients in the water killing many organisms. For instance, the orange-spotted filefish thrives in its natural coral habitat, however, as corals are dying, the fish struggle to survive. According to National Geographic, the orange-spotted filefish has already gone extinct near Japan due to warmer ocean currents. The link below gives an insight to greater effects of climate change on marine life, such adaptations and invasive species.
References
- “15 Animals Facing Extinction Due to Climate Change.” Local Weather from AccuWeather.com - Superior Accuracy™, www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/15-animals-facing-extinction-due-to-climate-change/70000220.
- Ali, Shereen. Managing Our Most Important Resource: The Caribbean Sea. 10 Dec. 2015, www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2015-12-09/managing-our-most-important-resource-caribbean-sea.
- The Economist
How else has global warming affected our world thus far?
ReplyDeleteApart from affecting coastal areas and marine life, global warming has also affected agriculture, the economy and even human health. All these problems relate to one another as seen in other posts.
DeleteI agree that the effect of climate change on the marine ecosystems is increasingly glaring. Developed nations disproportionately contributed to the current situation and should be making a greater effort to reduce emissions like greenhouse gases in accordance with UNFCCC agreements.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, developed nations contribute the most, however attempts have been made to curb their contributions of unnatural greenhouse gases. Such attempts are protocols like the kyoto and Montreal protocol. They were both designed to reduce air pollution. The Montreal protocol is seen as the most successful international treaty as it surpassed levels set out by the Kyoto protocol. By focusing on one green house gas, i.e chlorofluorocarbons, the Montreal protocol was deemed easier and more successful for reducing air pollution.
DeleteI agree since the envirnoment should be 1st piority and any pollution that cause degradation should be managed.
ReplyDelete1st priority is right!
ReplyDeleteIs there anyway to save the coral reefs? Or at least slow down the damage being done ?
ReplyDeleteyes..there are many ways to do this...one way is by planting trees...the more trees, the less runoff of water into oceans and as stated in this blog post corals need shallow waters to thrive,consequently, the additional water from the runoff poses a great threat.
ReplyDelete