World Oceans Day: June 8th, 2023
World Oceans Day is there to spread awareness about the critical role it plays in sustaining life one earth. Specifically, to encourage people to take action by protecting and sustainably manage it's resources.
What's all the hype about the ocean?
The ocean acts as a massive heat sink. It's absorbing an significant amount of heat without an immense increase in temperature. Makes sense, as it covers more than 70% of our planet's surface![^1]
Why it doesn't solve the climate crisis
While it can absorb heat pretty well, it also saves it and therefore the temperature of the ocean rises. Year by year. Indeed, 90% of global warming is occuring in the ocean[^2]. This has significant impacts. Heat stored in the ocean is responsbile for one-third to one-half of global sea level rise[^2]. Heat saved in the ocean can later release over longer periods, which means that it can influence the Earth’s heat for decades.
[^3]
Sources:
[1] https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-ocean-heat-content
[2] https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/ocean-warming
[3] https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/global-ocean-heat-content/index.html