Page 5 - My FlipBook
P. 5
The ocean is a complex environment,
so even an increase of just 1°F to 2°F
(0.6°C to 1°C) affects most marine
plants and animals.
Ocean water is like a heat sponge. About 80 percent
of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases ends up in
the ocean. The water then holds onto the heat much
longer than air can. Extra heat in the ocean is causing it
to spread out. The bottom of the ocean is made of rock.
The expanding water has nowhere to go but up. This
causes the sea level to rise. About half of the sea level
rise of the past century has been because of thermal
expansion in the ocean.
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