In
data collected from more than 460,000 oceanic readings, a first-ever
assessment of overall ocean salinity conducted by Australian scientists
has found that global warming is leading to certain ocean regions
becoming more salt-concentrated, while others are more diluted with
fresh water.
Increases in surface water temperature cause more
water to be evaporated from some areas, which is then transferred to
other regions and released as water in the form of rain or snow.
Researchers
Dr. Susan Wijffels and Paul Durack of Australia’s Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) found that the
geographic areas most affected by evaporation were subtropical oceans
like the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic, while tropical and higher
latitude waters were becoming more diluted through additional
precipitation.
Moreover, measurements made below the water’s
surface indicate that these changes in salinity are extending into deep
ocean currents, with the scientists stating that the effect on human
lives could be far-reaching as already-dry regions become dryer, and
areas that receive high amounts of rainfall are even more inundated.
Our
thanks, Dr. Wijffels, Mr. Durack and fellow Australian scientists for
your detailed assessment that reveals this widespread effect of climate
change.
May we heed the warning signs of such large-scale
disturbances and act swiftly to stabilize our ecosystems. At a May 2009
videoconference in Togo, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke, as on previous
occasions, of the vital importance of restoring balance to the world’s
oceans.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
From the oceans themselves, we are seeing warming temperatures, rising
sea levels, increasing acidification and terrible levels of pollution.
So global warming is affecting the oceans.
More than two-thirds
of the planet is covered by oceans. They provide half of the world’s
oxygen and play a major part in regulating the global climate.
So,
life on Earth truly depends very much on the ocean for survival.I am
eager as you are, and can’t wait to see the day when we all become
vegan, that is, before it is too late.
The planet will begin repairing itself in astonishing ways that scientists would be surprised.
The oceans will be healed as the rainfall and temperature begin to regulate themselves again, and produce restored balance.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/04/ocean-saltiness-shows-global-warming-is-intensifying-our-water-cycle.phphttp://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/04/16/ocean.salinities.show.intensified.water.cycle http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article399023.ece http://www.csiro.au/