Guest Blogger: Ethan Kihslinger - Generation Z - 10 years old - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Climate change is one the world’s greatest threats. It occurs when changes in the earth’s climate lead to extended changes in the weather patterns. While climate change has always existed, recently humankind has been making it worse. One of the biggest effects of these changes is ocean temperatures rising and its effect on marine life.
With the growing population humans are polluting the world more now than ever. The increase of population warms the atmosphere which makes the ocean temperatures rise. Another effect of climate is increased CO2 levels in the air. Oceans then absorb the CO2 and become more acidic. The warmer water and more acidic water have negative effects on marine life.
One of the most affected sea creatures is plankton. The acidic water does not let them build their shells. This makes them more vulnerable which promotes diseases and they die quicker. The warmer oceans waters also change the plankton’s migration pattern. These effects on plankton have consequences on the entire ecosystem.
Plankton are at the bottom of the food chain. Small fish eat the plankton, big fish eat the small fish and up the food chain it goes. Plankton also help remove co2 from the air. Less plankton means there is more co2 in the air which will increase climate change.
Climate change effects everything in the world. It is our responsibility to do what we can to help reduce human contribution to the change. We need to stop putting CO2 in the air. We can do this by polluting less. Driving better cars, riding your bike more, stop using plastic bags, and consuming less are all ways to pollute less.
Climate change is real, and it is warming the oceans. This effects the smallest organisms in the sea and effects our entire ecosystem. Time is running out and it is time to make a change before it is too late.