Earth is a water planet. The World Ocean covers over 70% of the Earth's surface. As we all know, it is divided into four major regions: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic. The ocean contains all the chemical elements found on Earth. But it tastes salty because of sodium and chloride ions in rainwater runoff, and minerals from geothermal vents on the seafloor.

The ocean impacts all species everywhere. It not only serves as the planet's largest habitat but also helps to regulate the global climate. The world’s ocean has a two-way relationship with weather and climate. The oceans influence the weather on local to global scales, while changes in climate can fundamentally alter many properties of the oceans.  

The global ocean is already experiencing the significant impact of climate change, and here are three major ways:

• First, the ocean is getting warmer. The greenhouse effect not only raises the temperature of the world's oceans. Over the past century, the ocean's surface temperature rose at an average rate of about 0.13 degrees Fahrenheit per decade. And during the past 30 years, sea surface temperature has been consistently higher than at any other time on record. This warmer water vaporizes quickly, fueling stronger and more frequent storms. Higher temperatures also threaten delicate ocean life like coral reefs and disrupt the food chain.
• Second, since 1993, the seas have been rising at a rate that's twice as fast as the long-term trend. Sea levels rise not only because water expands when it heats up, but also due to melting glaciers and ice sheets. Rising seas contribute to flooding on once drylands in coastal regions.
• Thirdly, ocean acidification. Seawater absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, which lowers its Ph and results in higher acid content. This reduces the concentration of calcium carbonate which makes it difficult for species like oysters, clams, and corals to form shells or skeletons.

The only way to stop the damage to our oceans is to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But even emissions stop tomorrow the gases currently in the atmosphere would take decades to dissipate.

Sources: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11056

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