Asked by anonymous

How does the burning of fossil fuels impact the oceans? Discuss 2 ways the oceans are impacted.(4 points)

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
1) Ocean warming and sea-level rise — Burning fossil fuels increases atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases, trapping heat and warming the climate. The oceans absorb most of that heat, which causes thermal expansion of seawater and contributes to melting land ice, raising sea level, and causes marine heatwaves that drive coral bleaching, shift species ranges, and disrupt fisheries.

2) Ocean acidification — Extra CO2 from burning fossil fuels dissolves into seawater and forms carbonic acid, lowering pH and reducing carbonate ions that many organisms need to build shells and skeletons. This harms corals, shellfish, and some plankton, weakening food webs and damaging ecosystems and the human industries that depend on them.