Oxygen in water is decreasing everywhere in the world, why is this a huge danger, it will destroy everything

The dissolved oxygen in the water of all the rivers, streams, lakes, waterfalls and seas across the world is decreasing rapidly. This is a big threat for the whole world. If this continues, then the animals living in these waters will first be in danger and after that its effect will start affecting the human race of the whole world. Scientists say that if this continues, then this will become the biggest threat to life in the world.

Just as oxygen in the atmosphere is necessary for us, similarly dissolved oxygen (DO) in water is also necessary for a healthy aquatic ecology. Whether it is a freshwater body or the sea, life is related to both of these. The organisms living in it are alive only as long as there is oxygen dissolved in their water. The life of aquatic animals is important for all of us.

Oxygen levels start decreasing in hot water
The amount of oxygen dissolved in water decreases for several reasons. For example, warmer waters hold less dissolved oxygen. As greenhouse gas emissions cause air and water temperatures to rise above their long-term averages, the oxygen content is also declining. Surface waters are becoming less able to retain important elements such as oxygen.

Industrial waste is also eliminating oxygen from water
Agricultural and domestic fertilizers, sewage and industrial wastes also contribute significantly in the elimination of this oxygen by absorbing the oxygen dissolved in water.

How will it affect the aquatic animals?
When oxygen levels start to decrease, microorganisms suffocate and die. This eventually affects larger species as well. Microorganism populations that do not depend on oxygen thrive on the deposits of dead organic matter, increasing their density to such an extent that light is reduced and photosynthesis is also severely limited, causing the entire water body to be caught in a vicious cycle called eutrophication.

The lack of aquatic oxygen is happening due to the rapid warming of water and also due to the decrease in surface salinity in the oceans due to melting of ice. Recently some scientists have warned about the lack of oxygen.

The dead area is increasing in this water
The alarming decrease in oxygen in the world’s water bodies is also being seen as deoxygenation, which is a threat to aquatic ecosystems and human livelihoods. This leads to the expansion of “dead zones”. This not only endangers the lives of fish but also disrupts the quality of water.

Deoxygenation can cause massive die-offs of fish, shellfish, corals, and other marine organisms. These oxygen-free areas, often called “dead zones,” disrupt entire food webs and can cause significant shifts in species distributions.

This will increase the production of greenhouse gases
In freshwater systems, low oxygen levels can alter microbial processes, potentially increasing the production of potent greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. This creates a dangerous feedback loop, as these gases contribute to further global warming. Additionally, low oxygen conditions in coastal waters can trigger the release of phosphorus from sediments, increasing nutrient pollution and potentially leading to harmful algae blooms.

Decline in oxygen levels has increased since 1960
The scale of oxygen depletion in the Earth’s waters is alarming. Since the 1950s, the oceans have seen a 2% decline in dissolved oxygen, with some regions seeing more severe losses of 20–50%.

The number of hypoxic sites in coastal waters has increased from 45 before 1960 to almost 700 in 2011. In freshwater systems, the situation is equally worrying, with temperate lakes losing oxygen faster than the oceans. Marine oxygen could be lost by a further 3-4% by 2100 under a business-as-usual scenario, according to estimates.

How much oxygen should be there in water
Healthy water typically has dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations above 6.5-8 mg/l. Most aquatic organisms require a minimum of 4 mg/l of oxygen to survive. Fish require at least 5 mg/l to survive. Dissolved oxygen levels can be higher in cold water, while oxygen solubility is lower in warm water.

Tags: clean water, Oxygen Crisis, Water Pollution, Water Resources