Climate Change The Changing Sea
Climate The long-term average of weather conditions over a large area and over many years.
Weather The daily and seasonal atmospheric conditions we experience in various locations.
Climate Change Any change in global temperature, precipitation or other weather patterns over the long term due to natural variability and human activity, primarily the rapid increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.
Global Warming A sustained increase in the Earth’s atmospheric and oceanic temperatures caused by greenhouse gasses trapping heat near the Earth’s surface.
The Greenhouse Effect
Major Greenhouse Gases CO 2 (carbon dioxide) CO 2 (carbon dioxide) NO (nitrous oxide) NO (nitrous oxide) CH 4 (methane) CH 4 (methane) H 2 O (water vapor) H 2 O (water vapor) HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) PFC (perfluorocarbon) PFC (perfluorocarbon) SF 6 (sulfur hexafluoride) SF 6 (sulfur hexafluoride) O 3 (ozone) O 3 (ozone)
Carbon Dioxide
Keeling Curve
Carbon Cycle
Rising Sea Levels © NASA
Wading Birds
Mangroves around the World
Hope Electrified Right now, the United States has technologies that together could replace fossil fuel- based energy production and reduce carbon pollution.
Iceless Arctic In the once ice covered Arctic, the world is changing fast for everyone who lives there— animals and people are losing their homes right now.
Arctic Ice Loss
Acid Ocean The chemistry of the ocean is changing at a troubling rate as it absorbs carbon pollution, making it difficult for many kinds of ocean inhabitants to survive
Ocean Acidification
Faith and Action People and communities are responding to climate change for many reasons: their sense of what’s right, their concern for future generations, their spiritual beliefs, their desire for justice for the poor and their connection to all life on Earth.
Simmering Seas Warming temperatures affect ocean animals in different ways
Spotted Jellies Green Sea Turtles
Vanishing Feast Climate change is making ocean productivity more variable making it more difficult for Magellanic penguins and other seabirds to find food.
Magellanic Penguins
World of Change Countries and cities around the world have already set carbon pollution reduction goals and are making creative changes to reduce carbon pollution.
Small Groups, Big Differences These people share hope for a better future and are making changes together in their communities, businesses and schools to lower their carbon pollution and build a stronger community.
Making Change Not Carbon We can solve the climate crisis by making little changes on our own and big changes together.
Why the Aquarium is talking about Climate Change
Critical Threats to the Oceans