9.6 ocean warming

Atmospheric warming ← → ocean warming

As the atmosphere warms, heat is transferred to the ocean

-ocean absorbs heat radiated back to earth by GHG

-absorbs heat due to high specific heat of water

-thermohaline circulation distributes heat absorbed at surface to depths & other areas of earth

-heat absorbed by ocean can transfer back to atm for decades

Effects on marine species of ocean warming

-Warmer water hold less O2 → respiratory irritant, stress, suffocation

-Migratory routes & mating seasons → altered (reproductive timing → disrupted)

-Habitat loss

-Toxic algae blooms: release toxins → kill species & block sun → hypoxia

Climate change & coral reef (how climate change affects coral reef ecosystems)

1) warming ocean → thermal stress

2) sea level rise → sedimentation

3) changes in storm patterns → stronger/ frequent storms

4) change in precipitation → increase runoff

5) ocean acidification → reduce pH levels

Coral bleaching

Coral reefs have a mutualistic relationship with coral & photosynthetic → zooxanthellae (algae supply sugar & coral supply CO2 + detritus)

-algae have narrow temp tolerance and leave when temp rises & pollutants from runoff can cause it to leave

-coral lose color & becomes stress → vulnerable to disease w/out algae (food source)