The Consequences of Rising Sea Surface Temperatures on Wildlife and Coastal Communities | Earth.Org (2024)

Reports show that more than 80% of people were affected by the record-breaking temperatures that led to July being the hottest month ever recorded. The severe consequences of last month’s heatwaves also pose threats to marine animals and plants. Heatwaves are linked to melting ice glaciers and the expansion of the ocean waters’ volume. As sea levels rise, low-lying coastal areas are left exposed to the risk of flooding and sudden displacement. In this article, we explore the consequences of rising sea surface temperatures on wildlife and coastal communities.

In July 2023, the average daily ocean surface temperature worldwide reached 20.96C, breaking the previous record of 20.95C reached in 2016.

This year’s unprecedented heatwaves as well as the climate phenomenon of El Niño are two of the main reasons behind the increase in ocean temperatures. Described as a climate phenomenon that warms ocean surface waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, El Niño is a weather phenomenon associated with the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central-east equatorial Pacific. This summer’s record-breaking temperatures led to excessive amounts of hot air being trapped in the atmosphere. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that 90% of that hot air is now being absorbed by the ocean, one of the largest carbon sinks in the atmosphere.

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Consequences of Rising Sea Surface Temperatures on Marine Biodiversity

Rising sea surface temperatures caused by the recent surge of heatwaves pose huge threats to marine biodiversity.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the recent surge in heatwaves resulted in a rise in ocean temperatures, which comes with consequences such as ocean acidification and a lack of oxygen levels in seawater. Marine mammals suffer from the loss of breeding ground and reproductive failure, resulting in several species being extinct. Acidification and lower pH also lead to shell dissolutions.

According to the US Endangered Species Act (ESA),approximately2,270 speciesare currently listed as endangered or threatened globally. Among them are the vaquita, the North Atlantic right whale, and the Yangtze Finless Porpoise.

You might also like: 13 Endangered Marine Species in 2023

According to a 2020 study pubilshed in Nature, warming seawater can cause shifts in spatial distribution of the marine animal’s original habitat, where species move to different habitats due to a change in temperature. This is one of the most common responses of marine mammals to rapidly warming and acidifying ocean waters. An example is the Bryde’s whales shifts to cool waters, despite it being a subtropical species. By moving to new environments that are native to another species, habitats end up being overcrowded. Moreover, alterations in habitats inevitably increase the number of range shifts of a species. More pathogens are developed and propagated when species shift to different habitats, threatening the immunity of marine animals and increasing stress in organisms.

The increase in ocean temperatures can also hinder the reproductive success of marine mammals. For example, female sperm whales have lower conception rates after being exposed to high sea temperatures for extended periods of time.

Apart from mammals, oysters and other biogenic and carbonate reefs are also at risk due to increasing acidification of ocean waters. Ocean acidification is expected to increase dissolution rates of oyster shells, which are essential in maintaining the structure of oyster reefs.

The rising temperatures of seawater also affect coral reefs. Lower pH values in seawater, a direct consequence of high levels of carbon dioxide absorption, leads to coral bleaching as the lack of oxygen destroys their calcium carbonate structure.

Bleaching occurs when a coral slowly becomes transparent due to prolonged exposure to high seawater temperatures. While not fatal, bleaching puts coral in a vulnerable position, as they are more at risk of diseases due to their deformed calcium carbonate structure. The coral’s immune system weakens and can no longer fight potential diseases.

Coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, and the Caribbean as well as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef are among those most threatened by global warming. The latter experienced a loss of about half of its corals during the massive bleaching events occurring between 2016 and 2017. Indonesia’s coral reefs are also deteriorating due to overfishing and plastic pollution. The mortality rate remains grim, as scientists warn that only 15% of coral reefs in the region have a chance of surviving or growing by 2050 due to worsening pH levels.

Consequences of Rising Sea Surface Temperatures on Coastal Communities

Aside from affecting marine biodiversity, rising ocean temperatures represent a threat to coastal settlements. As ocean temperatures rise, so will sea levels due to a phenomenon known as thermal expansion. As seawater temperature rises, the volume of the ocean expands; with the rapidly deteriorating climate crisis, the volume of the ocean is only destined to increase in the coming years.

The melting of glaciers and ice sheets is another cause of rising sea levels. Between 1994 and 2017, nearly 30 trillion tons of ices from glaciers melted worldwide. The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest ice sheet in the world. If it melts completely, it will add more than a metre of sea level rise by 2100 and more than 15 metres by 2500, scientists predicted.

The rise in sea levels poses threats on low-lying coastal cities all across the globe. In Southeast Asia, countries such as Bangladesh and cities like Bangkok are facing threats of flooding and risk being submerged entirely.

The average elevation of Bangladesh is nine metres above sea level and most of its urban population is situated in low-lying coastal areas. The Brahmaputra River and Padma River may cause significant flooding if the melting of ice sheets intensifies. Moreover, glaciers serve as an important source of water for Bangladesh’s agriculture industry and its population, so their disappearance would also lead to severe water insecurity in the nation.

Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is another low-lying city positioned only 1.5 metres above sea level, and has already faced the effects of the increased sea levels. In 2011, for example, deadly floods submerged approximately one-fifth of the city.

Apart from Southeast Asia, other cities and regions on the globe are facing threats from the rising sea levels. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is also threatened by rising seas, as 26% of the country is located below sea level and the majority of its urban areas are built around large water bodies.The city of New Orleans in the United States is another low lying coastal city that faces flooding threats. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was a grim reminder of the terrible consequences that the city faces if sea levels continue to rise, as the hurricane had already caused the city to be 80% flooded and submerged.

Conclusion

The consequences of ocean warming are far-reaching and demand our attention. As we have explored throughout this article, the warming of our oceans poses significant threats to marine ecosystems, biodiversity, coastal communities, and the overall health of our planet. From coral bleaching and habitat loss to altered migration patterns and disrupted food chains, the impacts of ocean warming are already being felt.

However, it is not too late to take action. We must prioritise efforts to mitigate climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. Additionally, we need to implement strategies to protect and restore vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and coastal habitats. Individual actions also play a crucial role. By making conscious choices in our daily lives, such as reducing our carbon footprint, conserving water, and supporting sustainable fishing practices, we can collectively contribute to the preservation of our oceans.

You might also like: Mediterranean Sea Surface Temperature Hit Record 28.7C, Highest In Four Decades

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The Consequences of Rising Sea Surface Temperatures on Wildlife and Coastal Communities | Earth.Org (2024)

FAQs

The Consequences of Rising Sea Surface Temperatures on Wildlife and Coastal Communities | Earth.Org? ›

The severe consequences of last month's heatwaves also pose threats to marine animals and plants. Heatwaves are linked to melting ice glaciers and the expansion of the ocean waters' volume. As sea levels rise, low-lying coastal areas are left exposed to the risk of flooding and sudden displacement.

What are the consequences of rising sea temperatures? ›

Increasing ocean heat content is contributing to sea level rise, ocean heat waves and coral bleaching, and melting of ocean-terminating glaciers and ice sheets around Greenland and Antarctica.

What is the impact of rising ocean temperatures on marine life and coastal communities? ›

Marine heatwaves can stress and kill marine life and disrupt ecosystems. For example, they can cause coral bleaching, which can lead to the death of coral reefs and the ecosystems that depend on them. Yet another possible impact is on the economy. Billions of people rely on ocean fisheries for food and jobs.

What is the effect of rising sea levels on the environment and coastal ecosystems? ›

Rising sea level inundates low-lying wetlands and dry land, erodes shorelines, contributes to coastal flooding, and increases the flow of salt water into estuaries and nearby groundwater aquifers. Higher sea level also makes coastal infrastructure more vulnerable to damage from storms.

What are the effects of rising sea levels on humans and wildlife? ›

Along our coasts, rising sea levels have begun to affect fish and wildlife habitats, including shorebird and sea turtle nesting habitat. In the oceans, subtropical and tropical corals in shallow waters have already suffered major bleaching events driven by increases in sea surface temperatures.

What are 2 consequences of rising sea levels? ›

The most serious physical impacts of gradual sea-level rise on coastal lowlands are (1) inundation and displacement of wetlands and lowlands; (2) coastal erosion; (3) increased vulnerability to coastal storm damage and flooding; and (4) salinization of surface water and groundwater.

What are the 3 main effects of rising sea levels? ›

In the natural world, rising sea level creates stress on coastal ecosystems that provide recreation, protection from storms, and habitat for fish and wildlife, including commercially valuable fisheries.

What are the effects of sea surface temperature? ›

This affects species' metabolism, distribution and phenology, with many marine species and habitats being highly sensitive to changes in SST. Increases in mean SST can also lead to increases in atmospheric water vapour over the oceans, influencing entire weather systems and eventually global climate.

How does the ocean influence temperatures in coastal communities? ›

Warm and cold ocean currents can affect the climate of coastal regions, but only when local winds blow in from the sea. Warm currents heat the air over the ocean and bring higher temperatures over land. Cold currents can lower air temperatures and can bring colder temperatures over land.

How does climate change affect animals in the ocean? ›

For example, plankton—tiny organisms at the bottoms of many marine food chains —are sensitive to water temperatures and oxygen concentrations. They can die off if the water gets too warm. Animals farther up the food chain, like whales, can suffer food shortages when this happens.

What is the most serious environmental effect of rising sea levels? ›

Consequences. When sea levels rise as rapidly as they have been, even a small increase can have devastating effects on coastal habitats farther inland, it can cause destructive erosion, wetland flooding, aquifer and agricultural soil contamination with salt, and lost habitat for fish, birds, and plants.

How does climate change affect coastal communities? ›

Climate change can also contribute to saltwater intrusion. Rising sea level and increased drought can enable saline water to advance further upstream and inland in estuaries, wetlands, and aquifers. Higher salinity can contaminate freshwater supplies and threaten some aquatic plants and animals.

How does rising sea levels affect natural disasters? ›

The impacts of sea level rise include beach erosion, inundation of low lying areas, salt water intrusion into aquifers, and increased flooding.

How does climate change impact wildlife? ›

Some species will struggle to find nutritious enough food to fit their existing gut biomes. Pollinators, for example, must feed from flowers that are blooming earlier in the year. Other animals may find their habitats are no longer able to support their biology.

How does coastal erosion affect wildlife? ›

When erosion happens unnaturally, it can destroy the habitats of sea birds that use the area for nesting and feeding. It can also disrupt aquatic animals habitats, such as fish, turtles, and shellfish. These changes in turn impact the entire beach ecosystem.

How does extreme weather affect animals? ›

Throughout the winter, extreme cold, wind, and snow leave animals housed outdoors—particularly cattle, sheep, and goats—vulnerable to cold-weather-related injuries and illnesses, such as frostbite and hypothermia.

What will happen if the oceans temperature keeps rising? ›

The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions, leading to rising ocean temperatures. Increasing ocean temperatures affect marine species and ecosystems, causing coral bleaching and the loss of breeding grounds for marine fishes and mammals.

What are the 3 major consequences in the ocean due to climate change? ›

Climate change warms the ocean, causing knock-on effects such as thermal expansion - which leads to a rise in sea level - and changes in ocean currents. The melting of ice both on land and in the sea also affects the ocean, causing more sea-level rise and reducing the salinity of the ocean, respectively.

What is one of the consequences of increased sea surface temperature? ›

Increases in sea surface temperature have led to an increase in the amount of atmospheric water vapor over the oceans. This water vapor feeds weather systems that produce precipitation, increasing the risk of heavy rain and snow (see the Heavy Precipitation and Tropical Cyclone Activity indicators).

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