It’s Relentless Why Oceans Are Getting Dark
Why oceans are getting dark is a serious issue that researchers are working on as 21% of the oceans are losing sunlight already and it’s horrifying at the same time, since this can lead to severe consequences in the future and as we still didn’t explored about 99% of the sea-floor present on Earth, the mysteries are getting heavier than before.
Oceans are the fundamental sources of life on Earth and one of the major biodiversity on Earth is present on oceans while many more are yet to be discovered, and oceans are carbon sinks that’s why they are super important for the entire Earth and everyone living here.
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It’s Relentless Why Oceans Are Getting Dark
Shrinking to the vital photic zone, satellites captured the image and fact that 21% of the oceans have darkened over the last decade.
The sunlight is unable to reach to the deep side of the ocean and this reduction in sunlight involves:
- Sunlight reduction can impact biodiversity region
- Threatens the marine biodiversity
- disrupts ecosystems
- affects food web chain
- ocean’s temperature in deep and surface is changing
- ocean regulates climate and less sunlight will weaken ocean ability to regulate global climate and produce oxygen
- The sunlit the upper layers that’s vital for life
Scientists do warn that this will affect the entire Global climate system, triggering extreme weather events, changes in energy transfer between ecosystems, supporting life on oceans will be disrupted and this is not an environmental issue but a complete planetary issue.
What Is Ocean Darkening?
In simple terms, it’s reduction in the water clarity i.e. how far sunlight is actually able to reach beneath the surface of ocean. The different regions around the globe are facing different problems especially in the respective photic zones.
Photic zones is the where the light supports photosynthesis and the beginning of marine food web begins.
This ocean darkening is common in the deep of oceans but the percentage of darkening worldwide is increasing and more upper layers are being affecting because of less sunlight.
The changes in ocean darkening can be caused by increase in:
1. Nutrients and sediments from agricultural runoff
2. Organic material from rainfall and soil erosion
3. Climate induced changes in ocean surface temperatures and current patterns
4. Algal blooms triggered by warming seas
Sunlight Is Reduced, What Research Has To Say About This?
Scientists analyzed the satellite data which they had and found out the following:
- Depth reduction exceeded 100 times in some cases
- 21% of the oceans have been darkened totaling 75 million square kilometers
- The darkening trend of ocean continues to dominate while 10% of ocean has lightened up
- 9% of ocean saw photic zones shrink by 50 meters
The regions were a lot of changes has been observed recently are:
- Seas like Baltic
- Arctic
- Gulf Streams
- Antarctica
How Marine Food Life Is Affected By Ocean Darkening?
There will be disruption in feeding, reproduction patterns and migration along with increased competition for relevant space and food plus the base of the marine food web chain will be affected which is the phytoplankton community.
How Ocean Darkening Affects Humanity?
Ocean Darkening affects the global climate change that influences human health and behavior, affecting overall oxygen production as 50% of oxygen production is done by the phytoplankton, food security triggering food insecurity which is why we need to protect our oceans, and climate regulation.
Conclusion On Why Oceans Are Getting Dark
It’s high time for us to take precise action and call to safeguard our oceans for our future generation by controlling our anthropogenic activities.
Amazing
Thank you so much 🙂