Climate Change Is Suffocating Large Parts of the Ocean – National Geographic

Article Synopsis – A new study says warming has reduced the oxygen levels in large swaths of the deep ocean, upending where and how sea creatures live, shrinking fish populations, and threatening marine life around the world. These low-oxygen zones occur naturally, but have grown by more than 4.5 million square kilometers—an area roughly as large as the entire European Union—just since the mid-20th century. Warm water simply carries less oxygen. It also stokes the metabolism of both microbes and larger creatures, causing them to use more of whatever oxygen there is. Today, those low-oxygen zones are expanding toward the surface by as much as a meter a year. To read the actual article click here.

By Sharon Gray January 6, 2018 Newsletter