RISING STAKES
In 2020 , global sea level rose 3.6 inches above 1993 levels , a new record high , according to the U . S . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Rising sea levels means threatened infrastructure and imperiled coastal communities , as well as more frequent flooding due to powerful storms that push waters increasingly inland . A study in Nature Communications found that high tides may displace as many as 150 million people by 2050 .
Rising ocean temperatures also threaten the water ’ s biodiversity , killing off species that cannot take the heat . Learning how the ocean is going to change is key to understanding species ’ habitats and preserving biodiversity . By studying the physical makeup of the ocean floor , scientists can better understand where species make their homes and what might be needed on the path to adaptation .
Additionally , the ocean is a basis for renewable energy . Offshore wind platforms must be situated on the ocean floor , requiring manufacturers to understand the foundation before they can build . Meanwhile , promising technologies are exploring how to produce hydrogen while capturing carbon from the air and sequestering it in the ocean as carbonates . Seawater splitting — where ocean water can be split into hydrogen as fuel — is also being considered . While these technologies are ramping up slowly , they will need to lean on the ocean as a foundation .
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PHOTO BY KM ASAD / GETTY IMAGES
Chittagong , Bangladesh , 2017