Differences Between Sea And Lake – WorldAtlas

Global Ocean Systems: A Report on Classification, Challenges, and the Sustainable Development Goals

Ocean Classification and International Cooperation

The classification of Earth’s oceans is a matter of ongoing international discussion, directly impacting global cooperation on conservation and scientific research, which are central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While four oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic—are traditionally recognized, a fifth, the Southern Ocean, is now acknowledged by numerous scientific bodies and nations, including the United States. This distinction is critical for targeting conservation efforts and understanding unique marine ecosystems.

• Traditional Four-Ocean Model: Historically recognized the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic Oceans.
• Emerging Five-Ocean Model: Includes the Southern Ocean, defined as the waters surrounding Antarctica south of 60° S latitude. Its formal recognition by bodies like the National Geographic Society in 2021 underscores its distinct ecological characteristics.
• Relevance to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Universal ratification of the Southern Ocean’s boundaries by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) remains pending. Achieving consensus is a key step in fostering the international partnerships necessary to implement SDG 14 (Life Below Water) effectively across all marine regions.

Ultimately, all named oceans are interconnected, forming a single global ocean system regulated by thermohaline circulation. This interconnectedness means that challenges such as pollution and climate change are global in scale, requiring a unified approach aligned with the SDGs. Approximately 80% of this global ocean remains unmapped and unexplored, highlighting a significant gap in the scientific knowledge needed to achieve SDG 14.

Ocean Profiles and SDG Imperatives

The Pacific Ocean

As the world’s largest ocean, covering 46.6% of the global ocean area, the Pacific Ocean’s health is fundamental to global climate stability and biodiversity, making its sustainable management a priority under the SDGs.

• Geographic Scope: Spans 168 million km² and contains Earth’s deepest point, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The vast ecosystems of the Pacific are home to a significant portion of global marine biodiversity. Protecting these ecosystems from threats like plastic pollution and overfishing is essential to meeting Target 14.2 (sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems).
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The Pacific Ocean plays a dominant role in regulating global weather patterns. Its warming and acidification are critical indicators of climate change, demanding urgent action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

The Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is a vital hub for global trade and biodiversity, but it faces severe pressures from human activities that conflict with sustainable development objectives.

• Geographic Scope: The second-largest ocean, covering approximately 17% of Earth’s surface.
• Sustainable Development Challenges:
  1. Overfishing: The Atlantic’s major fisheries are under significant strain, highlighting the need to achieve SDG 14.4 by ending overfishing and implementing science-based management plans.
  2. Pollution: Runoff from continents and maritime transport contributes to marine pollution, directly challenging SDG 14.1, which aims to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.

The Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is unique for its warm temperatures and monsoon-driven currents, supporting both rich biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions. Its sustainable future is contingent on addressing climate and pollution threats.

• Ecological Significance: Hosts critical ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, which are vital for coastal protection and biodiversity.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The health of these ecosystems is threatened by ocean warming and pollution. Protecting them is crucial for the resilience of coastal communities and aligns with SDG 14.2.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): As the planet’s warmest ocean, it is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which can intensify monsoons and threaten marine life, underscoring the need for global climate action.

The Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean’s role in regulating the global climate system is disproportionately large, and its unique ecosystem is a critical indicator of planetary health.

• Climatic Importance: The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the world’s largest, is a primary driver of global thermohaline circulation, distributing heat around the planet.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Climate change impacts are acutely visible in the Southern Ocean through melting ice and changes in ocean currents. Protecting this region is integral to global climate mitigation strategies.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): Its pristine but fragile ecosystem requires robust protection measures to conserve its unique biodiversity and support scientific research, as called for in SDG 14.a (increase scientific knowledge).

The Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is at the epicenter of climate change, with rapid environmental shifts that have profound global consequences and create complex challenges for sustainable development.

• Environmental State: The smallest and shallowest ocean, characterized by extensive sea ice, which is diminishing at an alarming rate.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The decline of Arctic sea ice is a critical feedback loop accelerating global warming. This rapid change threatens local wildlife and Indigenous communities and has far-reaching effects on global weather patterns.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The unique species adapted to the Arctic’s harsh conditions are at high risk. International cooperation is needed to manage emerging shipping routes and resource extraction sustainably, preventing further harm to this vulnerable marine environment.

Oceanographic Definitions and Their Relevance to Conservation

Distinction Between Oceans and Seas

Understanding the distinction between oceans and seas is important for tailoring conservation strategies under SDG 14. While both are saltwater bodies, their scale, connectivity, and physical properties differ, leading to different ecological and management challenges.

• Scale and Enclosure: Oceans are vast, continent-bounding bodies, whereas seas are smaller and often partially or fully enclosed by land.
• Physical Properties: Seas typically exhibit higher salinity due to greater evaporation and are shallower than oceans, supporting distinct ecosystems that require specific conservation approaches.
• Conservation Implications: The semi-enclosed nature of many seas can make them more vulnerable to pollution, requiring targeted regional management frameworks to achieve the goals of SDG 14.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, while primarily geographical, touches upon several environmental challenges and scientific endeavors related to the world’s oceans. Based on this, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed:

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This is the most relevant SDG. The article explicitly mentions threats to marine ecosystems such as “overfishing and pollution” in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It also discusses the rich “biodiversity—coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds” and the need to understand marine environments, as highlighted by the fact that “80% of the ocean hasn’t been mapped or explored.”

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article directly connects climate change to oceanic impacts. It states that “climate change impacts the region’s ocean currents, ice extent, and marine ecosystems” in the Southern Ocean and “accelerates sea ice decline, potentially altering ocean circulation and Arctic wildlife” in the Arctic Ocean. This highlights the urgent need for action to combat climate change to protect these vital systems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Several specific targets under the identified SDGs can be linked to the article’s content:

1. Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.

   The article identifies “pollution” as one of the “significant challenges” facing the Atlantic Ocean and a key threat to the Indian Ocean, directly aligning with the goal of reducing marine pollution.

2. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.

   The text mentions the vulnerability of “diverse marine ecosystems,” including “coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds” in the Indian Ocean and the impact of climate change on “Arctic wildlife.” This connects to the target of protecting these ecosystems.

3. Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing.

   The article explicitly names “overfishing” as a major challenge for the Atlantic Ocean and a threat to the Indian Ocean’s fisheries, which directly corresponds to this target.

4. Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology.

   The article highlights the vast gaps in our understanding of the oceans, stating, “Approximately, 80% of the ocean hasn’t been mapped or explored.” The ongoing scientific debate within the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) about the boundaries of the Southern Ocean further underscores the need for increased scientific knowledge and research.

5. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

   The article describes the impacts of climate change, such as “sea ice decline” and altered “ocean currents,” which are climate-related hazards affecting marine ecosystems. Understanding these impacts is the first step toward strengthening the resilience of these natural systems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators by their designated codes. However, it implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For Target 14.1 (Marine Pollution): The article mentions “pollution” as a challenge. An implied indicator would be the measured levels or observed impacts of pollution in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
• For Target 14.4 (Overfishing): The mention of “overfishing” as a threat implies that the sustainability of fish stocks is a key indicator. Progress would be measured by a reduction in overfishing activities and the recovery of fish populations in the affected regions.
• For Target 14.a (Scientific Knowledge): The article provides a direct quantitative indicator: the percentage of the ocean that has been mapped and explored. The statement that “80% of the ocean hasn’t been mapped” serves as a baseline. Progress towards this target could be measured by the reduction of this percentage over time.
• For Target 13.1 (Climate-related Hazards): The article implies indicators related to the physical impacts of climate change on oceans. These include the “extent” of sea ice in the Southern and Arctic Oceans and changes in “ocean circulation” patterns, such as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Monitoring these phenomena would measure the growing impact of climate-related hazards.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: worldatlas.com