Oceans running out of oxygen, says scientists

[PunkTheFunk 125,703]

Climate change: Oceans running out of oxygen as temperatures rise

Climate change and nutrient pollution are driving the oxygen from our oceans, and threatening many species of fish.

That's the conclusion of the biggest study of its kind, undertaken by conservation group IUCN. While nutrient run-off has been known for decades, researchers say that climate change is making the lack of oxygen worse. Around 700 ocean sites are now suffering from low oxygen, compared with 45 in the 1960s.

Researchers say the depletion is threatening species including tuna, marlin and sharks. The threat to oceans from nutrient run-off of chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus from farms and industry has long been known to impact the levels of oxygen in the sea waters and still remains the primary factor, especially closer to coasts.

However, in recent years the threat from climate change has increased. As more carbon dioxide is released enhancing the greenhouse effect, much of the heat is absorbed by the oceans. In turn, this warmer water can hold less oxygen. The scientists estimate that between 1960 and 2010, the amount of the gas dissolved in the oceans declined by 2%.

That may not seem like much as it is a global average, but in some tropical locations the loss can range up to 40%. Even small changes can impact marine life in a significant way. So waters with less oxygen favour species such as jellyfish, but not so good for bigger, fast-swimming species like tuna.

"We have known about de-oxygenation but we haven't known the linkages to climate change and this is really worrying," said Minna Epps from IUCN.

"Not only has the decline of oxygen quadrupled in the past 50 years but even in the best case emissions scenario, oxygen is still going to decline in the oceans."

For species like tuna, marlin and some sharks that are particularly sensitive to lack of oxygen - this is bad news.

Bigger fish like these have greater energy needs. According to the authors, these animals are starting to move to the shallow surface layers of the seas where there is more of the gas dissolved. However, this make the species much more vulnerable to over-fishing.

If countries continue with a business-as-usual approach to emissions, the world's oceans are expected to lose 3-4% of their oxygen by the year 2100.

This is likely to be worse in the tropical regions of the world. Much of the loss is expected in the top 1,000m of the water column, which is richest in biodiversity.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50690995

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Alexa play No Air by Jordin Sparks

[FlopSlurper 34,336]

It's fine, just keep 

 

[dynamite 66,564]

9 minutes ago, FlopSlurper said:

It's fine, just keep 

 

While you can 

[ChromeAngel 3,230]

While warming is inevitable- the earth naturally goes through cooling and warming periods, it would be nice if these corporations would stop poisoning our oceans. The children of these billionaires will suffer just as much as the rest of us. How can people be so shortsighted?

[Notget 502]

Will we have to fart in the oceans?

[FlopSlurper 34,336]

1 minute ago, dynamite said:

While you can 

you're right, that comment was a

I forgot that we're

for oxygen, I was all

Spoiler

I'll see myself out

 

[PunkTheFunk 125,703]

Just now, Notget said:

Will we have to fart in the oceans?

You mean you don't already?

[PunkTheFunk 125,703]

Just now, FlopSlurper said:

you're right, that comment was a

I forgot that we're

for oxygen, I was all

  Reveal hidden contents

I'll see myself out

 

If we keep f*cking up the earth we'll need 

to take us to a different planet

[Economy 52,842]

Decline is more accurate than "running out". It implies that it's almost gone when it's 2%

 

The issue isn't so much running out as it is a dangerous imbalance in lower levels

 

[Glamourpuss 29,080]

34 minutes ago, PunkTheFunk said:

You mean you don't already?

[Brie Candy 18,650]

And my uncle told me yesterday global warning is not real

[PunkTheFunk 125,703]

2 minutes ago, Brie Candy said:

And my uncle told me yesterday global warning is not real

And he's right. Global warming was a conspiracy created by Greta Thunberg so her parents would let her go to the US for spring break.

[Layton 895]

4 minutes ago, PunkTheFunk said:

And he's right. Global warming was a conspiracy created by Greta Thunberg so her parents would let her go to the US for spring 

I can confirm this. I am Greta. 

[FlopSlurper 34,336]

1 hour ago, PunkTheFunk said:

And he's right. Global warming was a conspiracy created by Greta Thunberg so her parents would let her go to the US for spring break.

Spoiler

 

[DC 25,164]

3 hours ago, PunkTheFunk said:

If we keep f*cking up the earth we'll need 

to take us to a different planet

To the planet