Ocean Changes

There are two main ways the oceans are affected by climate change. First off all, an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes some carbon to react with water in the oceans and turn into carbonic acid. The formation of carbonic acid prevents corals from forming their shells, causing them to die. Corals are very important ecosystems for many species so it is important to slow ocean acidification to prevent the extinction of many ocean species.

Another effect of climate change on oceans is rising ocean levels. As the Earth heats up due to the greenhouse effect, glaciers in the poles start to melt, causing ocean levels to rise. With temperatures continuing to rise, glaciers will continue to melt and ocean levels will start to affect many cities. Flooding along coastlines has already started and without work to prevent glaciers from melting faster, many large cities may be in danger.