Southern Ocean Deep Water Oxygen Content Drops 3% In 35 Years

[hatrack]

EDIT

"Richard Matear, a Hobart-based marine researcher, said the oxygen content of deep ocean water between Australia and Antarctica had fallen 3 per cent since 1968.

If new research confirmed the decline was happening throughout the world's southern oceans, it would be a strong sign global warming was interfering with sea currents.

EDIT

Dr Matear said the decline in oxygen levels in deep water of the Southern Ocean was exactly what computer modelling suggested would be seen if global warming slowed this circulation, reducing the cold water flowing south of Australia. "Cold water is high in oxygen," he said.

EDIT

Dr Matear said a decline in oxygen levels would be particularly serious for sea life in the tropics, where the warmer water is already oxygen-poor."

EDIT

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/10/1078594434768.html

[brokensymmetry]

1. So much for the limitless food from the sea theory.

Not a good sign...

[Dogmudgeon]

2. You should check out fishing yield drops since 1970

There have been major reductions in the fisheries of the world. Overfishing is assumed to be the culprit, but reductions in dissolved oxygen and increases in pollutants certainly cut into the sizes of fish schools, too.

A lot of fishermen are being forced back to the land and into the cities. It's not a good situation.

--bkl