Biodiversity
How does the ocean support life on this planet?
THE OCEAN:
Produces 70% of the World's Oxygen
The ocean produces more oxygen than all of the rainforests and all of the plants on land.
Sequesters 45% of Carbon Dioxide
The ocean sequesters 45% of the carbon dioxide produced by civilization and stores 95% of the planet's total carbon.
Maintains Biodiversity
The World Health Organization warns that biodiversity loss threatens to harm human health more than climate change.
Protects Against Climate Change
The Gulf Stream warms cold regions and cools warm regions. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) helps absorb 90% of the planet's heat.
Suffers from Human Interactions
Tuna, cod, and swordfish have declined by 90% in the last century.
Will Suffer More from Industrialization
Industrializing the ocean with offshore wind farms will harm whales, threaten fish stocks, decrease biodiversity, and diminish ocean currents.
Whales
Nature's Solution to Climate Change
North Sea sperm whales 'died in hunt for squid'
The deaths of 30 sperm whales in the North Sea were probably due to them straying into shallow waters while hunting squid, a marine expert said.
Credit: Tony Wu