How Climate Change Is Warming Our Oceans and Lakes
Learn how climate change is raising temperatures in oceans and lakes worldwide, the impacts on aquatic ecosystems, and simple everyday actions divers can take to help protect these vital environments.
PRESERVING OUR GREAT LAKES AND OCEANS
How Climate Change Is Warming Our Oceans and Lakes
Climate change isn’t just about warmer air temperatures. Tt’s causing oceans and lakes to warm, therefore disrupting delicate aquatic ecosystems everywhere.
Oceans absorb over 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, leading to rising sea surface temperatures year after year. This warming triggers coral bleaching, alters fish migration patterns, and threatens the survival of many marine species.
In freshwater systems like the Great Lakes, temperatures have steadily increased as well. Warmer waters can reduce oxygen levels, stressing fish and other aquatic life, while also encouraging harmful algal blooms that degrade water quality.
For divers, these changes impact the underwater landscapes we cherish. Coral reefs lose their vibrant colors and become more vulnerable to disease. Additionally, fish populations may shift or decline, affecting biodiversity and dive experiences.
While tackling climate change can feel overwhelming, small everyday actions can make a difference. Reducing waste by reusing and recycling lowers carbon emissions, helping to slow ocean and lake warming. Choosing eco-friendly products and supporting conservation initiatives also play key roles in protecting aquatic environments.
The health of our oceans and lakes depends on the choices we make today—and every day moving forward.
Happy and safe diving,
The ScubaBlast Team
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024). Climate change: Ocean heat content. Retrieved from https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-ocean-heat-content
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2023). Climate change impacts on water resources. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-water-temperature
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2023). Coral bleaching. Retrieved from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html