OCEAN OPTIMISM
As we dive into the deep and captivating world of our oceans, let us travel on an unusual journey beneath the waves, where even the fishes have their own version of a neighborhood gossip column. Picture this: a shy sea cucumber attending an underwater tea party, sipping on plankton-infused herbal tea while sharing the latest coral fashion trends with a chatty clownfish. Meanwhile, a clever crab is teaching a school of sardines how to salsa dance to the rhythm of the ocean currents. Yes, you heard that right – the ocean isn't just a storehouse of 97%[1] of the earth’s water, but a bustling underwater carnival of innumerable characters and hidden processes. They are dynamic ecosystems that regulate Earth's climate, foster equilibrium, and safeguard against the impacts of climate change. By absorbing 25% of carbon dioxide emissions and 90% of the excess heat generated by these emissions, the ocean becomes our greatest ally against changing climate.[2]
The ocean acts as a global thermostat by absorbing and distributing heat through pervasive currents and churning, and this movement influences weather patterns that directly impact businesses and communities around the world. Extreme events such as hurricanes or cyclones are manifestations of alterations in the oceanic temperatures. Moreover, the foreboding, irreversible effects like the stopping of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation[3] will have dire consequences for the world as we know it. Businesses reliant on agriculture, such as food and beverage industries, are directly impacted by weather patterns. For example, the US Corn Industry suffered from a heavy decrease in corn yield due to high night-time temperatures in the years 2010-2012. Michigan's warm winter in 2012 further led to $220M loss in cherry production.[4] Irregular and unpredictable weather will continue to be a global symptom of the disrupted health of the oceans.
Our aquatic friends are not sending us postcards from below the water but are sending us crucial messages about the health of our planet. Anthropological actions have pushed the oceanic species to a dire state and marine ecosystems are undergoing a profound transformation that in turn affects the entire web of life of the planet. One of the most critical species happens to be one of the smallest: plankton. These microscopic organisms – including diatoms, protozoans, small crustaceans, and eggs of larger animals - remove large amounts of carbon dioxide by using it as their food. Humans owe gratitude to their service to the maintenance of the habitable Holocene! However, in the last five decades, the plankton population has witnessed a staggering decline by almost 50%.[5]
Another area of near-irreversible decline is seen in global corals. Over a billion people rely on coral reefs for sustenance and income, yet 50% of coral ecosystems have collapsed over the last 50 years, with the rest at risk of mass bleaching and pollutants. Toxic chemicals like Oxybenzone, Octinixate, Octocrylene, and Paraben, present in cosmetic items, washing powders, or sunscreens, infiltrate ocean waters. They kill plankton, erode coral defense systems, and disrupt the crucial surface layer[6] responsible for water vapor release. Water vapor[7] is responsible for 60-70% of greenhouse gas effects, while CO2 accounts for 25%. When water cycles are in balance, the earth cools.
Global increase in the levels of carbon dioxide further leads to ocean acidification, compounding these challenges. This acidification weakens shellfish shells, making them susceptible to dissolution[8], and threatens the structural integrity of ecosystems that myriad species rely upon. In truth, there is not much to be optimistic about the way we have been treating the oceans: as the global repository for all human waste water, waste materials, spent chemicals and emissions. However, the way to move forward optimistically, purposefully, is to commit to healing our relationship with the ocean. We have hit near-rock bottom, so there is ample room for improvement from here!
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