The Seas Are Becoming Saltier.

 

One impact of the climate emergency is our broken hydrologic cycle. The oceans are warming, sea ice is in decline and the waters are becoming ever more acidic.

Warming oceans are also turning hypoxic. New research finds we may be facing the most  cataclysmic extinction of sea life in 250 million years.

Ocean currents, particularly the Atlantic Conveyor responsible for moderating climate in Europe and eastern North America, are weakening. 

Another study finds that our warming oceans are increasing ocean salinity while, at the same time, turning fresh water fresher due to increased precipitation.


Climate change is throwing Earth's water cycle severely out of whack. According to new satellite data, freshwaters are growing fresher and salt waters are growing saltier at an increasingly rapid rate all around the world. If this pattern continues, it will turbocharge rainstorms.

The findings indicate a severe acceleration of the global water cycle – a sign that isn't as clearly observed in direct salinity measurements from ocean buoys, which typically measure a little below the surface of the ocean. However, it's commonly predicted in climate models.

As global temperatures increase, climate scientists expect there will be greater evaporation on the ocean surface, which will make the top layer of the sea saltier and add moisture to the atmosphere.

This, in turn, will increase rainfall in other parts of the world, diluting some bodies of water to make them even less salty.

Wet gets wetter, dry turns even drier.

Recent climate models predict that for every degree Celsius of warming, Earth's water cycle could intensify by up to 7 percent.

Practically, that means wet areas could grow 7 percent wetter and dry areas 7 percent drier on average.


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