Global Warming Ocean Impacts and Feedbacks By: Josh Gardner

The Ocean The ocean makes up 76% of the planet. The ocean moves energy out of the tropics to the rest of the world which creates weather. The ocean adds moisture to the air. The ocean is very important in global climate. The ocean contains great amounts of CO 2

Ocean Thermohaline Circulation

Ocean Thermohaline Circulation This circulation starts in the gulfs where warm salty water moves north where it cools. When it cools, it becomes more dense and the salt allows it to sink. The current then moves South where is starts over. This movement allows CO 2 to be absorbed

Ocean Thermohaline Circulation The thermohaline Circulation has had a 40% decrease in intensity. It appears to be slowing. The thermohaline circulation also has an important role of supplying heat to the polar region which regulate the amount of ice in these areas.

Impact on the Ocean The Ocean has absorbed nearly half of the carbon emitted by humans since This weakens the thermohaline circulation which also weakens the intake. CO 2 from the atmosphere diffuses into the ocean. A lot of CO 2 creates carbonic acid. This means the pH of the ocean drops and the ocean becomes more acidic.

Marine Life Marine plants soak up carbon dioxide and use it during photosynthesis. The CO 2 is also used to make skeletons and shells of the ocean creatures The ocean needs CO 2 Plankton is the basis of all of the food chains in the ocean. When the ocean in low in CO= 3 and becomes acidic, plankton becomes deformed This could devastate the oceans food chains

Bleached Coral Bleached coral is when the little organisms living on the coral die This is caused by the climate change and by an acidic ocean

Conclusion We know that the ocean has helped tremendously in slowing down global warming, but that help will stop. The ocean acidification depends on the amount of CO 2, not the climate. That means that geoengineering does nothing for helping the ocean. We are causing a major effect on our oceans.

Global Climate Change: Ocean Impacts and Feedbacks  Julia Cole, Associate Professor of Geosciences  Notes taken from lecture on November 7, 2006