Right now, Floridians are frantically trying to prepare for Hurricane Ian, and Puerto Rico is dealing with the destruction from Hurricane Fiona. As ocean temperatures increase, so will the severity of hurricane season. Hurricanes thrive in conditions with warm water and high humidity. As global air and water temperatures have risen in recent years, the hurricane season has gotten longer and more intense.

Increasing ocean temperatures also serves as a harbinger of ocean acidification. The temperatures of the oceans have increased because the oceans serve as a giant sink for carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. Although oceans have always acted as carbon sinks the drastic increase in carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere has amplified this quality. When these toxic gases dissolve into the ocean, the ocean becomes more acidic. This process is called ocean acidification. Many organisms cannot survive in an even slightly more acidic environment.  Consequently, the world has continued to see instances such as coral bleaching or biodiversity decreases.

What can we do now to help mitigate rising ocean temperatures? Well, we cannot wait for policies to initiate change. We must begin to institute change in our behaviors now before it is too late. We must conserve the precious natural resources that we do have, and actively work to decrease the environmental impact of humankind.

IX Power Clean Water is working to do just that. IX Power Clean Water is making it possible for industries to affordably treat and clean their wastewater so it can be reused in a sustainable, closed-loop system.  Then, industries don’t have to use our precious freshwater in their production processes. Find out how IX Power Clean Water is helping to change industrial water consumption at  https://ixwater.com/.

By Sierra Tanner