Ocean warming
Ocean warming may well turn out to be the greatest hidden challenge of our generation. Whilst some may be aware of the challenges a warming ocean presents to coral reefs, few know about the other consequences this holds for the ocean.
Ocean warming is driving changes across species and ecosystem scales, and across geographies and the world. It interacts with deoxygenation, ocean acidification and other stressors with likely compounding consequences for ocean ecosystems and species.
In 2016, IUCN released a landmark publication Explaining ocean warming : causes, scale, effects and consequences that explores this issue from a range of different perspectives – oceanography, ecosystems and species. It contains many recommendations from the scientists on capability gaps and research issues that need to be resolved if we are to tackle the impacts of ocean warming with greater confidence in the future.
Issues brief
The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions, leading to rising ocean temperatures.
Increasing ocean temperatures affect marine species and…
Publication
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2016
Ocean warming may well turn out to be the greatest hidden challenge of our generation. This report represents the most comprehensive review to date on ocean warming. To build up the report,…
Press release
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05 Sep, 2016
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, 5 September (IUCN) – Ocean warming is affecting humans in direct ways and the impacts are already being felt, including effects on fish stocks and crop yields, more extreme weather…
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