Climate change in deep oceans could be seven times faster by middle of century, report says
Rates of climate
change in the world’s ocean depths could be seven times higher than current
levels by the second half of this century even if emissions of greenhouse gases
were cut dramatically, according to new research. Different global
heating at different depths could have major impacts on ocean wildlife, causing
disconnects as species that rely on each other for survival are forced to move. In the new research,
scientists looked at a measure called climate velocity – the speed at which
species would need to move to stay within their preferred temperature range as
different ocean layers warm.
The study, published
in the journal Nature
Climate Change, found different parts of the ocean would change at
different rates as the extra heat from increasing levels of greenhouse gases
moved through the vast ocean depths. By the second half of
the century, the study found “a rapid acceleration of climate change exposure
throughout the water column”....
