&
climate change
our oceans
s a m a n t h a g a r c i a & c h a r i s c a r a b a l l o
ocean heat
The
oceans
creating
are
absorbing
more
heat,
unsustainable habitats
for
wildlife.
Changes
in
ocean
temperature
also
cause alterations in climate patterns
all
around the world.
surface temp.
Even with some
increase
is
variation, the
clear,
and
sea
overall
surface
consistently
higher during the past three decades
temperatures
than
at
any
have
other
been
time
observations began in
since
reliable
the late 1800s.
sea level rise
When averaged over all of the world’s
risen at a rate of
roughly six-tenths of an inch per
oceans, sea level has
decade since 1880. The rate of increase
accelerated in recent years
more than an inch per decade.
has
to
ocean acidity
Acidity of our oceans has increased due
CO2. Higher
acidity affects the balance of minerals
to higher concentrations of
in the water, which can make it more
difficult for certain
marine animals
to
build their protective skeletons or shells.
"We need to respect the
oceans and take care of them
as if our lives depended on it.
Because they do."
sylvia earle
visit epa.gov for more info.