Our oceans are amazing! They cover 70% of our planet and produce more than half of the oxygen we breathe. This is thanks to tiny organisms called phytoplankton. However, the oceans are changing rapidly due to global warming. So, what might they look like in the future?
Since 1970, the number of fish in the ocean has decreased by 50%. In just 30 years, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight. Fish like sea bass, which are common near North Carolina, might move north to cooler waters near New Jersey. Sea levels have already risen five to eight inches in the past century and are still rising. By 2050, cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Alexandria, and Mumbai could be underwater, affecting 190 million people.
Building sea walls might help, but as Benjamin Strauss from Climate Central asks, “How deep a bowl do we want to live in?”
Google has some awesome tools to help us learn. Google Lens can help with homework by providing step-by-step solutions. If you have a song stuck in your head, Google Hum to Search can find it for you. Plus, with Google’s augmented reality, you can see life-sized animals like dolphins right in your room!
If carbon emissions continue to rise, sea levels could increase by two to three feet by 2100. This is partly due to thermal expansion, where warmer water takes up more space, and melting glaciers. The ocean’s “conveyor belt,” which moves warm water from the tropics to the poles, is slowing down. This could lead to hotter summers in Europe and more intense storms in the U.S., affecting weather, agriculture, and economies worldwide.
The ocean is vital for food, medicine, minerals, and energy, supporting jobs and national security. A slower conveyor belt will change how silt and debris are deposited on the ocean floor over time.
As we release more carbon dioxide, the ocean’s pH decreases, making it harder for shell-making animals like clams and oysters to survive. By 2100, creatures like the seabutterfly might lose their shells in just 45 days, leading to a muddier ocean environment.
If emissions continue, sea levels could rise by 26 feet by 2300. In 500 years, the ocean might struggle to support life. Dead zones, where oxygen is too low for survival, have increased from 50 in the 1950s to around 500 today. Warmer oceans hold less oxygen, and animals need more oxygen as their body temperatures rise.
Fishing and fish farming support the livelihoods of 660 to 880 million people. Changes in the ocean ecosystem directly impact many lives. The ocean absorbs over 90% of the heat and about 30% of carbon dioxide emissions from human activities. As surface temperatures rise, the ocean becomes less dense and less able to absorb carbon dioxide, creating a negative feedback loop.
Stratification, where ocean layers form like a cake, has increased by 5% in the last 60 years. This process affects how heat and nutrients circulate in the ocean.
Looking 1,000 years ahead, if emissions aren’t reduced, the entire Greenland ice sheet might melt, causing a 5 to 7-meter rise in sea levels. In 10,000 years, Earth could be seven degrees warmer, leading to a 70-meter rise in ocean levels. This would drastically change our planet, with almost no mountain glaciers left and Greenland losing all its ice.
A 10-meter sea level rise would displace over 630 million people. A 25-meter rise could leave 20% of humanity homeless.
Our most accurate predictions extend to about 100 years into the future, but many variables could change. The future depends on our actions and how we care for our planet. Some carbon we release now could remain for hundreds or thousands of years. It’s up to us to take steps to ensure a healthy ocean, not just in 1,000 or 10,000 years, but even in the next 30 years.
Research and create a timeline that shows the predicted changes in the ocean from now until 2100. Include key events such as sea level rise, changes in marine life, and the impact on human populations. Use visuals and data to make your timeline engaging and informative.
Using materials like clay or cardboard, create a 3D model that demonstrates how rising sea levels could affect coastal cities. Label the cities and show the potential impact of different sea level scenarios. Present your model to the class and explain the science behind sea level rise.
Use Google Lens to research a marine animal affected by climate change. Then, use Google’s augmented reality to visualize this animal in your environment. Share your findings with the class, including how climate change impacts this species and what can be done to help.
Perform a simple experiment to understand ocean acidification. Use vinegar to simulate increased carbon dioxide in water and observe its effect on materials like chalk, which represents shell-making animals. Record your observations and discuss how ocean acidification affects marine life.
Participate in a class debate on the best strategies to combat climate change and protect our oceans. Research different viewpoints, such as reducing carbon emissions, building sea walls, or investing in renewable energy. Present your arguments and listen to others to understand the complexity of the issue.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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A portion of this video was sponsored by Google. Oceans produce more than half of our oxygen, thanks to phytoplankton, which absorb most of the heat from global warming and cover 70% of our planet. However, they are changing faster than ever. So, what will the ocean look like in 1,000 or even 10,000 years from now?
Let’s start with 30 years from now. The number of fish in the sea has dropped by 50% since 1970. In 30 years, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by biomass. Species like sea bass, which are usually common along North Carolina shores, will be found near New Jersey as marine life migrates to cooler waters. Sea levels have risen five to eight inches in the last 100 years and continue to rise. By 2050, 190 million people will be facing a sinking city. Ho Chi Minh City will be below sea level, Alexandria in Egypt will be underwater, and Mumbai, one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world, will be submerged in just 30 years.
Sea walls could help, but as one scientist, Benjamin Strauss, Climate Central’s chief executive, said, “How deep a bowl do we want to live in?”
Now, let’s take a moment to thank today’s sponsor, Google. They’ve developed many innovative tools that help us learn and access information. One feature I’m excited about is Google Lens, which allows you to visually input your homework, from word problems to tough math questions. Google not only helps you find the answer but also provides a step-by-step guide on how to get there.
Another feature is Google Hum to Search. If you have a tune stuck in your head, you can hum, whistle, or sing it, and Google will find it for you right away.
Lastly, Google has an augmented reality feature that lets you see life-sized animals anywhere around you. You can experience dolphins up close without even going to the beach!
Now, back to the oceans. If carbon emissions keep rising, there will be a two to three-foot sea level rise by 2100. A major reason for this is thermal expansion; warmer water takes up more space. Glaciers melting also contributes to this rise. As the oceans heat up, the great conveyor belt, which carries warm water from the tropics to the poles, is slowing down. If trends continue, by 2100, the Gulf Stream will weaken by 34 to 45%. A weaker conveyor belt means hotter summers in Europe and more intense storms in the U.S., leading to significant impacts on weather patterns, agriculture, biodiversity, and economic stability worldwide.
The ocean provides food, medicine, minerals, and energy resources, supporting jobs and national economies. It also plays a role in national security. A slower conveyor belt means that silt and debris will be carried and deposited differently, changing the landscape of the ocean floor over centuries.
As we release more carbon dioxide and the ocean’s pH continues to decrease, animals that make shells, like clams and oysters, will struggle. Predictions for carbonate and pH conditions in 2100 indicate that animals like the seabutterfly or pteropod could lose their shells within 45 days. This loss would decrease the chalky layer of minerals, leading to a muddier ocean environment.
If we continue on the same emissions path, by 2300, there could be a 26-foot rise in sea level. In 500 years, the ocean could be suffocating. In the 1950s, there were around 50 dead zones in the ocean where oxygen levels were too low for survival. Today, there are around 500 dead zones, covering millions of square miles. Warmer oceans hold less available oxygen, and as animal body temperatures increase, their metabolism rises, requiring more oxygen.
Fishing and fish farming support the livelihoods of 660 to 880 million people, which is about 12% of the world’s population. Any change to the ocean ecosystem directly impacts many lives. Large areas of the ocean could also become stratified, where layers form like a cake. This process occurs naturally, but with currents, there is usually mixing of surface and deep water, which circulates heat and nutrients. The ocean absorbs over 90% of the heat and approximately 30% of carbon dioxide emissions produced by human activities. As surface temperatures rise, the ocean becomes less dense and less able to absorb carbon dioxide, creating a negative feedback loop.
Stratification has increased by 5% in the last 60 years and continues to grow.
Looking 1,000 years into the future, scientists predict that if we do not reduce emissions, the entire Greenland ice sheet will likely melt, causing a 5 to 7-meter rise in sea level. In 1,000 years, the oceans may look very different, but there are sponges over a mile beneath the surface that are thousands of years old, and they may still be thriving.
In 10,000 years, if we continue to emit CO2, scientists predict that the Earth could be seven degrees warmer, leading to a staggering 70-meter rise in ocean levels. There would be almost no mountain glaciers left in temperate latitudes, and Greenland would lose all its ice, contributing significantly to sea level rise.
To put this in perspective, a 10-meter increase would displace more than 630 million people, nearly 10% of the world’s population. At a 25-meter rise, 20% of humanity could be left homeless.
Our most accurate predictions only extend to around the 100-year mark, not because we can’t imagine further, but due to the many variables that could change between now and then. The future depends on our actions as a species and how we care for our planet. Some of the carbon we release now could remain for hundreds or even thousands of years. Whether we take the necessary steps to create a healthy ocean, not just in 1,000 or 10,000 years, but even in 30 years, is up to us.
Be sure to like this video, subscribe for more science content, and we’ll see you next time.
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This version removes informal language and personal remarks while maintaining the core information and structure of the original transcript.
Oceans – Large bodies of saltwater that cover most of the Earth’s surface and play a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate and weather patterns. – The oceans absorb a significant amount of the Earth’s carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Carbon – A chemical element found in all living things, and a major component of fossil fuels, which contributes to the greenhouse effect when released into the atmosphere. – Reducing carbon emissions is essential to slowing down global warming and protecting the environment.
Sea – A smaller body of saltwater, partially enclosed by land, that is connected to an ocean. – The Mediterranean Sea is known for its unique marine biodiversity and historical significance.
Levels – The height or concentration of a particular substance or measurement, often used in the context of sea levels or pollution levels. – Rising sea levels due to melting ice caps pose a threat to coastal communities worldwide.
Warming – The increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases. – Global warming is causing more frequent and severe weather events, impacting ecosystems and human societies.
Climate – The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular region, including temperature, precipitation, and wind. – Scientists study climate data to understand how human activities are affecting the Earth’s natural systems.
Marine – Related to the sea or ocean, especially in terms of the plants and animals that live there. – Marine conservation efforts aim to protect ocean habitats and the diverse species that inhabit them.
Life – The existence of living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, which interact with each other and their environment. – The Great Barrier Reef is home to a wide variety of marine life, making it a vital ecosystem to protect.
Ecosystem – A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment, functioning as a unit. – Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and regulating the Earth’s climate.
Pollution – The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, causing adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. – Reducing plastic pollution in the oceans is essential for protecting marine life and maintaining healthy ecosystems.
