Natural Changes In Ocean Deserts

Increases in the amount of heat that the earth’s oceans contain can cause many changes. These increases in temperature have increased the rate at which ice from glaciers and ice sheets melts which has led to a rise in the oceans sea level and volume. Storm systems are greatly affected by these temperature changes the warmer the ocean is the stronger the storm system becomes (1). The increase in warmth in the top layers of the ocean leads to stratification in its water columns minimizing circulation in its waters and affecting the amount of nutrients and primary productivity in them (2). These changes have led to an increase in the range of the “ocean deserts” which are located in the Atlantic and Pacific by 6.6 million km^2, or 15% from 1998-2006. …show more content…
These uneven distributions of heat slow down the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) and affect local climates. Higher temperatures and lower amounts of salinity in surface waters are and will continue to change the MOC. Natural changes in the oceans climates occur at different time scales, causing climate events like El Nino-Southern Oscillation and Decadal Oscillation. This shows that the slow increase of heat in the Earths Ocean and atmosphere influence the strength and direction of its major current systems. These shifts in the patterns of ocean currents are capable of having great impact on the allocation and amount of marine ecosystems, which is shown by many El Nino-Southern Oscillations and their impacts on kelp forests and coral reefs