June 8th is World Oceans Day, the United Nations day for celebrating the role of the oceans in our everyday life and inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources. The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, it is home to most of the Earth’s biodiversity and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world. The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions, leading to rising ocean temperatures.
Increasing ocean temperatures affect marine species and ecosystems, and contribute to sea-level rise, ocean heatwaves, coral bleaching, and the loss of breeding grounds for marine fishes and mammals. Rising ocean temperatures also affect the benefits humans derive from the ocean – threatening food security, increasing the prevalence of diseases, and causing more extreme weather events and the loss of coastal protection. Heat already stored in the ocean will eventually be released, committing Earth to additional surface warming in the future. Global warming impacts vegetation, food sources, access to water, and much more. Ecosystems may become uninhabitable for certain animals, forcing wildlife to migrate outside of their usual patterns in search of food and livable conditions, while causing other animals to die off.
It is in this spirit that Frontiers is launching a new article collection to coincide with this very important UN day. This occasion not only offers an opportunity to acknowledge the role of the oceans in our everyday life but also to consider the importance of inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources.
June 8th is World Oceans Day, the United Nations day for celebrating the role of the oceans in our everyday life and inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources. The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, it is home to most of the Earth’s biodiversity and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world. The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions, leading to rising ocean temperatures.
Increasing ocean temperatures affect marine species and ecosystems, and contribute to sea-level rise, ocean heatwaves, coral bleaching, and the loss of breeding grounds for marine fishes and mammals. Rising ocean temperatures also affect the benefits humans derive from the ocean – threatening food security, increasing the prevalence of diseases, and causing more extreme weather events and the loss of coastal protection. Heat already stored in the ocean will eventually be released, committing Earth to additional surface warming in the future. Global warming impacts vegetation, food sources, access to water, and much more. Ecosystems may become uninhabitable for certain animals, forcing wildlife to migrate outside of their usual patterns in search of food and livable conditions, while causing other animals to die off.
It is in this spirit that Frontiers is launching a new article collection to coincide with this very important UN day. This occasion not only offers an opportunity to acknowledge the role of the oceans in our everyday life but also to consider the importance of inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources.
