Decreasing Level of Oxygen in Oceans: A Threat to All

Oceans are the biggest source of water on this planet. It’s very unfortunate that the amount of water with zero oxygen has increased dramatically in the open ocean, in the last 50 years.

The low level of oxygen has led to the death of these corals and others in Bocas del Toro, Panama and crab like species.  The low-oxygen sites have increased more than tenfold since 1950 in coastal water bodies that include estuaries and seas. It has been expected by scientists that the level of oxygen will continue dropping as Earth warms. It has gone very much important to stop this oxygen decline. We need to have a check on both climate change and pollution. Oxygen is the fundamental necessity to the life of the species in the oceans. Approximately half of the oxygen on Earth comes from the ocean itself. However, due to nutrient loading and climate change number and size of 'dead zones' in the Open Ocean and coastal waters are increasing, where oxygen is too low to support most of the marine life. Even less amount of oxygen decline can stop growth in animals, hinder their reproduction and ultimately it leads to disease or even death of those animals. It also causes the release of dangerous chemicals like nitrous oxide, greenhouse gases and toxic hydrogen sulfide. To control oxygen decrease, we need to understand the causes, protect vulnerable marine life and improve low-oxygen tracking worldwide. We can also reduce the risk by better sewage treatment, better farming practices and successful laws like the Clean Air Act.

By: Anita Aishvarya

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180104153511.htm