![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/Waves-of-Change.jpg\")
A giant, blue sponge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The ocean is one of the world\u2019s largest, natural carbon and heat sponges. It soaks up rampant carbon dioxide and<\/em> a majority of the heat within the atmosphere created by our excess greenhouse gas emissions. Natural carbon sponges are normally excellent allies in our collective climate fight \u2013 however, we\u2019ve exceeded our ocean\u2019s capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The more heat our ocean sucks up, the warmer its waters become. Globally, the ocean\u2019s surface has warmed about 1.5\u00b0F<\/a> since the beginning of the 20th century. This means that while the world\u2019s temperatures slowly warm, so do our ocean\u2019s waters. At the same time, the more carbon dioxide the ocean soaks up, the more acidic its waters become. All that excess carbon dioxide interacts with seawater\u2019s pH, which increases ocean acidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’re seeing the impacts of warmer and more acidic waters both on people and wildlife alike right now. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Increasing ocean and air temperatures melt glaciers and land ice, adding more water to the ocean. Additionally, warmer temperatures cause water to expand, and push our tides farther up along our shores. Sea level rise also puts coastal communities at elevated risk for severe flooding and intense storm events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Increased temperatures decrease the amount of oxygen our ocean can hold. Warmer waters<\/a> generally contain less oxygen, amplify how much oxygen marine organisms need, and promote harmful algal blooms that further worsen oxygen loss. Ocean oxygen loss, otherwise known as hypoxia, therefore creates uninhabitable zones for marine wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can also see climate change\u2019s impacts on our marine organisms, who have been scrambling to new habitats with suitable water temperatures to survive and find food. The marine organisms we depend on for our local economies and love to see recreationally are either moving deeper into the ocean or moving northward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ocean acidification further impacts marine organisms by degrading the shells and exoskeletons that protect them. Important shellfish to Massachusetts\u2019 local seafood economy and marine ecosystems, like mussels, are weakening because of ocean acidification\u2019s impact<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our ocean deserves our love and support. We must come together and take an oath to our ocean to fight climate change by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions \u2013 protecting the people and wildlife that depend on our big, blue world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sign up for our newsletter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our newsletter, Climate Connection, keeps you up to date on climate news, Mass Audubon\u2019s climate action initiatives, and ways that we can tackle our collective climate fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take Mass Audubon\u2019s Climate Pledge<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can pledge to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions both individually and as a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Purchase and eat local<\/a>, sustainable<\/a> seafood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Purchasing locally caught and sustainable seafood can help fight climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions needed to get your food to your plate \u2013 all while combating other threats amplified by climate change, like overfishing. Take some time to learn more about where your seafood comes from, how it was caught, and whether it\u2019s in season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shipping demands for non-local seafood, certain types of fish farming, and even the way your seafood was caught all affect how big its carbon footprint is. Buying locally and sustainably, helps reduce that carbon footprint.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nothing says Massachusetts like the ocean. Beautiful coastlines, sparkling beaches, and local seafood are part of what makes our commonwealth special. The ocean provides humans and wildlife with so much that allows us to thrive. Now, the ocean needs our help. A giant, blue sponge The ocean is one of the world\u2019s largest, natural carbon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":14193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[178],"tags":[246,150,322],"class_list":["post-14164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climate","tag-climate-action","tag-climate-change","tag-ocean"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/Waves-of-Change.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3Gs","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14261,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-splash-of-good-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":14164,"position":0},"title":"A Splash of Good News","author":"Rishya N.","date":"June 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"As one of the world\u2019s largest, natural carbon sinks (a sponge that sucks up rampant carbon dioxide emissions) the ocean is working incredibly hard to balance the impacts of climate change. Unfortunately, that means a lot is changing inside our waters: from warming temperatures to acidification, climate change\u2019s effects on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1306Jennifer_Childs13178.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1306Jennifer_Childs13178.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1306Jennifer_Childs13178.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1306Jennifer_Childs13178.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6231,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-gelatinous-invasion\/","url_meta":{"origin":14164,"position":1},"title":"A Gelatinous Invasion","author":"Rosemary","date":"September 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Our beaches are teeming with tiny gooey blobs. Though they look like jellyfish, they\u2019re called salps. Here are the basics on this remarkable invasion. About Salps Salps are stingless, barrel-shaped creatures that travel by jet propulsion, squeezing water through their bodies. During different parts of their life cycle they may\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/09\/molamola.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/09\/molamola.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/09\/molamola.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15384,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/salt-marsh-restoration\/","url_meta":{"origin":14164,"position":2},"title":"Climate Action through Salt Marsh Restoration","author":"Rishya N.","date":"March 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0DNRT's and\u00a0Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0TerraCorps\u00a0members, staff,\u00a0and\u00a0volunteers hard at work. When we\u00a0look to nature, we can find many ways to adapt to\u00a0and mitigate climate change. Restoring nature so it can perform these services is, in part, how Mass Audubon\u00a0acts on climate.\u00a0Wetland restoration work being done on\u00a0the South Coast is a prime example.\u00a0\u00a0 On\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/02252021_DNRT_OVF_Workday_41.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/02252021_DNRT_OVF_Workday_41.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/02252021_DNRT_OVF_Workday_41.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/02252021_DNRT_OVF_Workday_41.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13176,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/leading-by-gretas-example\/","url_meta":{"origin":14164,"position":3},"title":"Leading By Greta’s Example","author":"Hillary T.","date":"October 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"If you\u2019ve been following the news about the youth-led climate strikes, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ve heard about, and been inspired by, Greta Thunberg. This 16-year-old from Sweden has galvanized millions worldwide to speak out about the climate crisis and demanded that world leaders take meaningful action on this urgent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Greta Thunberg","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/09\/GretaNatureNow.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/09\/GretaNatureNow.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/09\/GretaNatureNow.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/09\/GretaNatureNow.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17539,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/news-massachusetts-releases-historic-request-for-offshore-wind-proposals\/","url_meta":{"origin":14164,"position":4},"title":"News: Massachusetts Releases Historic Request for\u00a0Offshore Wind Proposals","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"May 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Exciting news: Massachusetts has just requested proposals for new offshore wind turbine developments that could produce up to 25% of our state\u2019s electricity. Wind energy developers will now be able to submit proposals to build large arrays of wind turbines in the waters off of the Massachusetts Coast. \u00a0 Most\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Large wind turbines in the ocean.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/05\/Andy-Dingley.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/05\/Andy-Dingley.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/05\/Andy-Dingley.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/05\/Andy-Dingley.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14478,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-down-by-the-sea\/","url_meta":{"origin":14164,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Down By the Sea","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The coastal towns of Massachusetts are an artist's dream: historic fishing villages, picturesque lighthouses, sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, and harbors brimming with boats of all shapes and sizes make for postcard-perfect scenes, accompanied by the vibrant culture and deep history of the region. Unfortunately, climate change is threatening our coastal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Onset, MA \u00a9 Dean Martin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5939Dean_Martin30623.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5939Dean_Martin30623.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5939Dean_Martin30623.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5939Dean_Martin30623.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/126"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14164"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14247,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14164\/revisions\/14247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Two sides to the blue coin: warmer and more acidic waters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sea level rise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A suffocating ocean<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Marine organisms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How we can help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n