According to a report, published October 14, 2009, the ocean has the potential to significantly slow global warming. Seagrove beds, Mangrove forest, and salt marshes cover less than 1% of the wolrld sea bed. Yet, they lock away over half of all carbon trapped in the ocean floor. These sea beds are estimated to store 1,650 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. That is nearly half of the worlds transport emission, making sea beds one of the most importan and intense carbon sinks on earth. Sea beds are under threat, however. They are being lost at a rate of 7% a year. That is nearly fifteen times faster than the tropical rain forest is being depleted, yet both are equally vital to the absorbtion of Carbon. halting the destruction of the sea beds could be one of the easist ways to slow global warming. But, with 50% of the worlds population living within 65 miles of the sea. This results in lots of human pressure on near shore waters. Asian shores have lost nearly 90% of mangrove forest due to human destruction. salt Marshes and estuaries suffer a similar fate as they are cleared and destroyed for human development, and if they arent cleared the turbid water doesnt allow enough sunlight to reach the grass, thus causing the grass to die. Once again human interference is harming the environment and ourselves.
Ryan May
This is very interesting. I didn't know that sea beds could absorb that much oxygen. I also didn't know that they were as vital to the environment as rainforrests. I agree with Ryan if we can somehow limit human pressure along coastlines, then we may be able to stop the destruction of sea beds and mangrove forrests. Maybe we can begin to restore or start new mangrove forrests in suitable areas.
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