According to latest research our oceans may suffer huge mass extinction by 2100!
Scientists have warned that oxygen levels in oceans are gradually falling due to increased carbon levels and it is leading to mass extinction of marine life.
Humans are responsible for this reduced oxygen supply which ultimately lead to creation of ‘dead zones’ These zones are areas in ocean where oxygen supply is so low that marine life begin to die therefore given the name dead zones. This area becomes the biological desert for fish and marine species in that habitat.
Every spring the largest dead zone is formed in Gulf of Mexico. This is due to the reason that farmers put fertilizers in crops in spring season which are washed away by rain into rivers and then oceans contributing to decrease the supply of oxygen in oceans. There are also natural factors which are responsible for dead zones but nutrient pollution is main cause created by human activity.
Among other factors are death of coral reefs which decompose and this process of decomposition consumes lot of oxygen. The death of coral reefs is leading to global warming as already discussed in my previous post here.
According to latest research done at Massachusetts Institute of Technology facility, scientists say that due to current fast absorption of CO2 may trigger the mass extinction similar to that occurred about 445 million years ago. Marine species including sponges, algae, clams, cephalopods and jawless fish, all finished as a result of this catastrophe.
Our earth has already suffered five huge mass extinctions that disturbed the normal carbon cycle in the oceans and also in atmosphere. Each of these extinctions extended over millions of years wiping out large scale marine species. Since 19th century, carbon dioxide emissions have increased tremendously contributing to unstable carbon levels.
According to research of Daniel Rothman, professor at MIT department, significant changes in carbon levels have occurred in last 450 million years to such extent that threshold of catastrophe has reached which if exceeded may lead to another mass extinction. He said it is feared that oceans may collect so much carbon by 2100 which would be enough to start next sixth mass extinction of marine creatures.
"This is not saying that disaster occurs the next day," Rothman says. "It's saying that, if left unchecked, the carbon cycle would move into a realm which would be no longer stable, and would behave in a way that would be difficult to predict. In the geologic past, this type of behavior is associated with mass extinction.”
He studied two different deep sea sediments, compared their carbonate amounts and reached the conclusion. If this oxygen remained at similar rates, there are chances that more dead zones would be created in about 100 to 350 years.
If we manage to stop this catastrophe in near future, we may escape next mass extinction. If not, human activity can tip us to edge of mega extinction which would have drastic results.
My country is an archipelago and reading this really saddens and gives me anxiety at the same time. But articles like this give me hope because awareness is spread. I hope people would be more concious of the ocean's health especially the people in these islands since we are heavily surrounded by water.
You are right. It is time to do something otherwise consequences might be worst.
♥♥very well post dear and great job.and very well science, steemit. i like your post many many thanks for shering♥♥
keep it up
our future .. very denger
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This is not good,strict measures should be taken in other for this deadzone not to expand more in the aquatic territory.
wow...yes...u speak truth...I am sorry about our current state, but I do believe we are at the tipping point of being able to change it. it's now or never...I am sure you know of permaculture?!
MAN, this is such a good article, I haven't nerded out on things like this in a while. Keep this coming!!!
good post
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