Climate and Environment

Our planet relies on the ocean as a climate regulator. At the same time, the effects of our emissions are most evident in the ocean. Today, eutrophication, climate change, ocean acidification, and invasive species are some of the challenges the oceans face.

The Ocean – A key player in climate

The ocean is already significantly impacted by human activity, making it sensitive to further influence from climate change. Habitats of species may disappear, shift, or shrink, while others gain access to new distribution areas. This can lead to a reduction in biodiversity, exacerbating the ocean’s resilience against, for example, climate change.

According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), over 90 percent of excess heat and between 20 and 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions have been absorbed by the ocean. Carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean as the gas dissolves in water, and phytoplankton in surface waters take it up and bind it in organic material through photosynthesis. Phytoplankton are then consumed by zooplankton, which, along with other organisms, fall towards the ocean floor like marine snow when they die. This process allows large amounts of carbon from the upper layers of the ocean to reach deeper layers which is crucial for the organisms there. The transport of carbon to the bottom also ensures that it remains in the ocean much longer than if it were to stay in the surface layer, potentially leaking carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

One effect of increased emissions of greenhouse gases is ocean warming. When the oceans become warmer, the entire ecosystem is affected. Fish size may change, algal blooms and dead zones increase, and many species such as eelgrass, harbor seals, and mussels struggle to survive. Furthermore, as water becomes warmer, it becomes more challenging for the ocean to absorb carbon dioxide, potentially accelerating climate change.

The ocean is now warming at the fastest pace in the last 11,000 years. Although it can be slowed down with powerful measures, the stored heat energy contributed so far will continue to warm our planet for hundreds or even thousands of years.

The ocean plays a large role in how we experience the climate on our planet. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Nordic countries for instance have a relatively mild climate in relation to their northern positions. Warming of seawater leads to significant changes in ocean circulation and rising sea levels as sea ice melts. The decrease in ice is more pronounced in the northern hemisphere than in Antarctica, and research indicates that the ice will continue to melt for at least 100 years, regardless of the measures taken. However, the effects worsen as we emit more greenhouse gases. Many scientists are concerned about how the Earth will be affected when the Arctic ice disappears, as it affects the climate by reflecting solar radiation.

Climate change will affect the salinity of the ocean. In areas near the equator, evaporation will increase, leading to an increase in salinity. In areas closer to the pole, salinity will decrease as precipitation and the influx of freshwater increase and polar ice melts.

Changes in salinity and temperature can, among other things, lead to increased oxygen deficiency. This is because the stratification of seawater in depth becomes clearer, preventing mixing and transport of oxygen-rich water to the bottom. Salinity and temperature also largely control the geographic distribution of species, meaning that climate change can have significant consequences for biodiversity.

The evil twin of warming

The absorption of carbon dioxide by the ocean has almost doubled since the 1980s, but it has come at a cost. When carbon dioxide is mixed into the water column, the chemistry of the ocean changes. A higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the ocean increases acidity, a phenomenon called ocean acidification, sometimes referred to as the “evil twin of warming.” Like the effects of climate change, ocean acidification can lead to the extinction of species or shifts in ecosystems. Studies show that key species such as brittle stars in Gullmarsfjorden would not survive the acidification expected within a few decades. And since many species depend on them, it can have significant consequences for the entire ecosystem.

Ocean acidification affects various biological processes such as photosynthesis and calcification. Many marine organisms are affected by the fact that ocean acidification makes calcium less accessible, as they form shells and skeletons from calcium. Corals are affected by both calcium deficiency and increasing temperature. Coral reefs are one of the ecosystems with the highest biodiversity globally but are also most affected by climate change, leading to coral bleaching. Even the coral Lophelia in Kosterhavet National Park is affected by increased temperature and acidity.

Eutrophication

Today, several marine areas, such as the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, are affected by eutrophication. This is due to increased nutrient input, leading to the proliferation of fast-growing phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, and filamentous algae. This makes it difficult for other species to survive as much sunlight is blocked. When the algae sink to the bottom, bacteria use up the oxygen to break down the organic material. This has resulted in large dead zones in, for example, the Baltic Sea, where only bacteria and a few other microorganisms can survive in the oxygen-depleted environment. Eutrophication leads to overgrown bays, deteriorated water quality, and reduced biodiversity.

While some nutrient inputs occur naturally, human activities contribute significantly by adding extra nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus. Agriculture, sewage, industries, forestry, road traffic, and shipping all contribute to eutrophication. Because eutrophication in the Baltic Sea has been ongoing for so long, there are old sins in the form of nutrients bound in sediment. Internal loading is a process where these nutrients are released, mainly when there is limited oxygen at the bottom. Eutrophication thus creates a negative spiral where the system eventually feeds itself.

Although the eutrophication status is still poor in most parts of the Baltic Sea, improvements can be seen in the Gulf of Finland, Kattegat, and the Belts. According to the Helsinki Convention, HELCOM, nitrogen inputs have decreased by 19 percent, and phosphorus by 24 percent since the mid-1990s. To further reduce the impact of eutrophication, the main sources, namely agriculture and wastewater, should be controlled.

Environmental toxins

Many environmental toxins have decreased significantly since the 1970s. However, society’s extensive use of chemicals needs further reduction. History speaks clearly: actions make a difference.

Almost all toxic substances released into nature are considered environmental toxins. Some of these can harm animal and plant life even at low levels if they persist for an extended period. Environmental toxins often break down slowly, meaning their effects can be both long-lasting and spread over large areas. Some common environmental toxins include mercury, lead, cadmium, tributyltin (TBT), DDT, PCB, and dioxins.

Most organic environmental toxins are fat-soluble and therefore accumulate in the fat tissue of various organisms. Toxins accumulate to a greater extent the higher up the food chain you go. Therefore, top predators, often suffer more from environmental toxins than prey animals. When humans eat fish that have stored environmental toxins, they ingest these toxins. This has led to specific dietary recommendations for pregnant women, children, and young people when it comes to fatty fish.

White-tailed eagles and seals were heavily affected by environmental toxins during the 1960s and 70s because they are long-lived animals high up in the food chain. The white-tailed eagle was close to extinction because the chicks did not survive. Seals in the Baltic Sea struggled to reproduce, and in combination with hunting, environmental toxins led to only a few thousand seals remaining. After measures were taken to reduce the levels of environmental toxins, white-tailed eagles and seals in Sweden increased.

But despite the prohibition of PCB and many measures aiming at reducing the spread of environmental toxins, the levels are still relatively high. Some dioxins are considered some of the most dangerous environmental toxins as they can affect the development of our brain, immune system, nervous system, and the ability to have children. This is due to their long-lasting nature and the existence of emission sources that Baltic Sea countries have not yet addressed. Additionally, humans constantly introduce new chemicals that risk reaching the oceans.

Plastic in the ocean

A common pollutant in the ocean today is plastic. There are more than around 150 million tons of plastic afloat and this increases by an estimated 5 to 13 million tons each year. Estimates show that 80–85 percent of marine litter in the EU consists of plastic. Of this, 50 percent are single-use products, and 27 percent are fishing-related items. Lost fishing gear, such as nylon nets, often float around as death traps for animals, known as ghost nets. Whales, seals, seabirds, and other animals can get entangled in these and die.

To try to reduce the problems of plastic waste in the oceans, the EU introduced a directive against single-use plastics in 2021, prohibiting the sale of plastic straws, among other items. Since it takes several hundred years for plastic to break down in the ocean, it instead slowly disintegrates into smaller parts, eventually becoming microplastics. Microplastics are also flushed into the ocean from wastewater treatment plants, often originating from fabrics made of synthetic materials and additives in hygiene products and cosmetics. About 10–30 percent of plastic particles elude capture by wastewater treatment plants and end up in the ocean. If animals ingest microplastics, they can be harmed or poisoned. Additionally, when they consume plastic, a false sense of being full occurs, leading to malnutrition. In water, plastic particles act as magnets for bacteria and environmental toxins, which animals ingest.

Although no significant risks for the environment and health have been found with current concentrations of plastics, knowledge gaps are significant. This currently prevents any conclusive statements about the risks of microplastics.