A Picture is Worth... Ocean Deserts Expanding  

Scary image for the day comes from TreeHugger, showing the dead zones in the oceans (originally from NOAA News).

The black areas represent the least productive areas of the ocean, which have increased 15% from 1998 to 2007. The warming of the surface of the ocean is thought to increase stratification within the water column, preventing the nutrients in the cool deep ocean from rising to the surface. Without the mixing, there is limited ability for life to take hold.

We humans have an odd relationship to the ocean, treating it both as a bounty and an endless dump. This dualistic relationship has its costs. Addressing ocean health is tied to terrestrial problems and global warming. The good news is there is a lot we can do to help the ocean recover and stay resilient despite change. Jeremy provides an overview of ocean health issues, and even 10 solutions we can do to mitigate this growing problem.