Highlights:
• The oceans contain 80% of all life on earth
• The deepest place in the ocean is Mariana Trench at 10,994 meters (35,814 feet) below sea level.
• The diet of more than 3 billion people depends on fish.
• Our oceans currently contain more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic
Oceans cover over 70% of the planet. Our existence is reliant upon it, as is the survival of every organism on our planet. Oceans produce more than half of the world’s oxygen, are home to most of the earth’s biodiversity, and are a primary protein source for over a billion people. By 2030, an estimated 40 million people will be employed by ocean-based industries, adding to the ocean’s importance to our economy. While the ocean has many benefits, it is now in need of help. The ocean is being exploited more than it can replenish, with 90% of big fish populations depleted and 50% of coral reefs destroyed. It’s imperative that we work together to achieve a new balance with the ocean so that its bounty is no longer depleted, but instead is restored and renewed. “Planet Ocean: tides are changing”, is the theme for World Oceans Day 2023 – the UN is joining forces with decision-makers, indigenous leaders, scientists, private sector executives, civil society, celebrities, and youth activist to put the ocean first.Each year, World Oceans Day encourages people to pay attention to the oceans’ crucial role in our everyday lives.As the lungs of our planet, as major sources of food and medicine, as well as a critical component of the biosphere, they are a vital part of our world. Human actions have a negative impact on the world’s oceans. The purpose of Oceans Day is to raise awareness, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize the world’s population for the sustainable management of our oceans. Despite the fact that there is only one ocean on this planet, oceanographers and countries have traditionally divided it into five recognized oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Southern Ocean. There are approximately 1.335 billion cubic kilometers of water in all the oceans together. Fresh water makes up only 2.5% of this amount, while saltwater accounts for 97.5%. There is no doubt that the ocean is warming as a result of climate change, and the rate of warming is on the rise. Global ocean temperatures reached their warmest levels ever recorded by humans in 2022. As indicated by the ocean heat content in 2022, it exceeded the maximum of 2021. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases are primarily responsible for the steady rise in ocean temperatures. Globally, 97% of all water is found in the oceans. As a consequence, the ocean has a profound impact on the weather, temperature, and food supply of humans and other organisms.In spite of the ocean’s size and effect on all life on Earth, it remains incredibly mysteriousIt is estimated that more than 80 percent of the ocean has never even been explored, mapped, or even seen by humans.
Despite the fact that there is only one ocean on this planet, oceanographers and countries have traditionally divided it into five recognized oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Southern Ocean.
Moon and Mars surfaces have been mapped and studied to a much greater extent than our ocean floor. It has already been discovered that oceanographers are making some amazing discoveries, though the field is still in its infancy. For example, as with land, the ocean contains towering mountains and deep canyons, which we refer to as trenches. The peak of the world’s tallest mountain—Mount Everest in the Himalaya, measuring 8.84 kilometers (5.49 miles) high—would not even break the surface of the water if it was placed in the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench or Philippine Trench, two of the deepest parts of the ocean.
The Ocean’s Health Is The Planet’s Health: Oceans are essential not only to marine creatures and plants but to all life on earth. For example, as we mentioned above, oceans produce half of the oxygen in our atmosphere, and they absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide, one of the major causes of climate change. The ocean is what we call a carbon sink, which means that it absorbs more CO2 than it releases.
Threats: Climate change and pollution are the two major threats to marine ecosystems. There are, of course, interconnections between these factors, and they all arise from human behavior.By changing our behavior and habits, we can start working towards a more sustainable future and protect our oceans
Here are some actions we all can take to protect our marine ecosystems:
Avoid single-use plastics
Carry a useable water bottle
Say no to plastic cutlery and straws
eliminating coal combustion, which will help reduce ocean bound mercury pollution
transitioning away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy;
reducing the production and use of single-use plastic to cut the amount of plastic in our environment;
Expanding Marine Protected Areas to safeguard critical ecosystems, protect vulnerable fish, and improve human health.
(The authors write frequently on topics of socio-economic interests exclusively for the opinion pages of “Kashmir Horizon” . The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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