Effects of climate change on oceans

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/effects-of-climate-change-on-oceans

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Why is the ocean getting warmer?The ocean absorbs most of the extra heat from greenhouse gases, so its upper layers are getting hotter.
2. How does a warmer ocean make storms stronger?Warm water gives tropical cyclones more energy, making them more intense.

Anthropogenic: Originating from human activity, especially environmental pollution.
Ocean Acidification: A decrease in the pH of the ocean caused by the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Thermal Expansion: The tendency of matter to increase in volume when heated, applied here to seawater.
Ocean Stratification: The layering of ocean water based on density, influenced by temperature and salinity.