Our Changing Oceans
Troubled Waters: How Climate Change is Impacting Our Oceans
The ocean. It covers over 70% of our planet, produces over half of the world's oxygen, and regulates our climate. It's a vast, mysterious world teeming with life. But what happens when this vital system starts to change? That's the question scientists are grappling with as they observe significant shifts in our oceans, driven largely by climate change and human activity.
Warming Waters
One of the most significant changes is the increasing temperature of ocean waters. As the atmosphere traps more heat due to greenhouse gas emissions, the ocean absorbs a large portion of this excess energy. This leads to rising sea temperatures, which can have devastating effects on marine ecosystems. Coral reefs, often called the "rainforests of the sea," are particularly vulnerable. Warmer waters cause coral bleaching, where corals expel the algae living in their tissues, turning them white and making them more susceptible to disease and death.
Acidification: A Silent Threat
- Ocean Acidification:
- The process where the ocean becomes more acidic due to absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Coral Bleaching:
- When corals expel algae due to stress, causing them to turn white and become vulnerable.
- Greenhouse Gas:
- A gas that contributes to the warming of the earth's atmosphere by trapping heat.
- plankton:
- Tiny marine organisms that drift in the water and serve as a vital food source for many sea creatures.
- food chain:
- A connected series of living organisms in which each organism feeds on the one below it.
- ecosystems:
- Communities of living plants and animals interacting with each other and their physical surroundings.
- mitigate:
- To lessen, relieve, or reduce the severity or harmful effects of something.
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- 1What are some of the major ways climate change is impacting the oceans?
- 2Explain how rising ocean temperatures affect coral reefs.
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About this news article passage for Middle School
“Our Changing Oceans” is a news article reading passage about Ocean Changes, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (492 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.