BY Kailey bickelApproximately 6 year ago, a massive underwater heat wave emerged in the west coast. “The Blob”, as it was named, expanded from the Northern edges of Alaska and Russia, all the way down to below California. This marine heat wave consists of a seven degree average temperature rising along the surface of the ocean: causing multitudes of underwater animals to die in the cross-fire. The heightened risk factors for animals quickly took many scientists' attention. Dr. Pippa Moore, marine ecologist, previously concluded that climate change was the main cause of the major marine heat waves, but was thrilled to hear a formal attribution study was being conducted. This attribution study concluded that persistent high-pressure air flying stagnant over the west coast initially formed the Blob. The rapid warming further blossomed when another marine heat wave- from tropical storm Gordon- brought deep water upwards, causing the entirety of the ocean to heat up. (rather than just the surface) The large-scale ocean-atmospheric interactions still have not come to an end. Brian Dzwonkowski, researcher at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, found that hurricane Micheal- category 5 storm- “supercharged the shallow coastal waters from top to bottom”. These tropical disasters, formed from the massive climate change, are at the root of our problem. Without a change in atmospheric pressure, the tides will turn (literally and metaphorically). Weather will soon constitute the abundance of food resources and the ability of survival for aquatic animals. Additionally, Dr. Moore already found the effects of the Blob to be both indirect and direct. Some of the heat abundance is quickly destroying the population of sea lions of the Western Coast of America, causing huge migrations and enormous deprivation of resources for many species. Additionally, the heat waves “Are causing toxic algae blooms that can kill fish”, in every area where heat waves reside. Even the East coast has suffered from climate change ocean temperatures, “2012 heat wave in the Atlantic affected the lobster harvest in the Gulf of Maine and raised trade tensions between the United States of America and Canada.” These ecological climate change effects are readily becoming economical, and the oceans once abundant resiliency is coming to an end. If major nations do not start to recognize these effects of climate change, our constant supply of resources from the ocean will soon diminish. Climate change erupted the news approximately thirty years ago, and yet very little progress has been done to stop the rapid heating, and all the side-effects in the process. References:
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