Oceans as modifier of Greenhouse effect
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution man has been burning fossil fuels, and in the process releasing carbon dioxide. About half of the carbon dioxide so produced is still in the atmosphere; the other half has been dissolved in the oceans.
The burning of fossil fuels directly heats the air and it also produces carbon dioxide which influences the amount of sun’s heat retained in the atmosphere.
As we know, carbon dioxide is nearly transparent in visible light, so the sun still reaches the earth’s surface. Carbon dioxide traps infrared radiation given off by the earth’s surface. The result is greenhouse effect, i.e. higher temperature for the earth’s surface.
Fortunately the ocean acts as a buffer and absorbs about half the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from fossil fuels.
It is because of the presence of oceans that the actual increase is only half that expected if all the carbon dioxide remained in the atmosphere. In the absence of oceans the greenhouse effect could have been disastrous.
To conclude, for better regulation of marine exploitation activities, research to increase knowledge of the oceans must continue.
