Greenhouse Gases Push Ocean Health to Tipping Point
A report published June 18th in Science magazine by two leading marine scientists, strongly warns that oceans are approaching a “tipping point” into ill health that would have catastrophic effects upon the world’s ability to support life. The lead author of the report is Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Director of The University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute, in Australia, and co-author Dr. John F. Bruno, an Associate Professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The authors suggested that the ocean functions relative to the planetary body like the heart and lungs function within the human body. They drew this metaphor from the fact that the oceans produces half of the oxygen that we breathe and absorbs 30 percent of the CO2 that we exhale.
It goes without saying how important the heart and lungs are to our health, and the report showed signs of significant illness within this area of the planet. Without healthy oceans, the world will be unable to function in a healthy way. Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said that it is like the oceans have been smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. However, it is humans who have administered the pollutants to the oceans, and we will have to be the ones to not only adjust our behaviors but also take urgent remedial measures to set things right with earth’s oceans.
The report suggested that we may soon see sudden and dramatic changes within the oceans that will have negative effect upon human well-being. These may include effects endangering the very capacity of the planet to support human life. Major changes in the world’s oceanic ecosystems; diminishing coral reefs, rising ocean temperatures, increased acidity, expanding “dead zones” (similar to desert areas on land), fewer and smaller fish and extinctions, breakdowns in the marine food chain, all have rippling effects whose total impact could produce changes far faster than had been previously calculated.
All signs are pointing to the fact that we are reaching a tipping point with the health of the world’s oceans. The oceans are so vital to the health of the planet. Sick oceans may be unable to fulfill their primary role in supporting human life on our planet. We are seeing rapid changes, the likes of which the world hasn’t experienced in over a million years. The summary of the observations of this report is that we can’t afford to take a wait and see approach to the health of the oceans. World leaders must act now with urgency to limit further growth of greenhouse gases. The stakes are too high. “Ignoring the science is not an option.”
