If the sea surface temperature were to rise, which of the following could be the possible outcomes?

1. Possibility of large storms would decrease

2. Salinity of oceans would increase

3. Coral Bleaching would take place

4. Habitat destruction of certain mammals would take place

5. Decrease in invasive species and overall loss of biodiversity

Select the correct statements using the codes given below.

a) 2, 3 and 4 only

b) 1, 3 and 4 only

c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans :a

If the Sea temperature were to rise, what would happen? First the water content in atmosphere would rise. All weather is a function of the content of water vapour in the atmosphere . With increase in water vapour content, weather phenomenon would only increase and likelihood of storms would increase.

Coral bleaching would also increase. Habitat destruction ( such as in the Poles ) would increase. Invasive species would also spread ( Why? ) as they would find weather conditions more suitable outside the current habitat. For example, tropical plants would even spread to higher latitudes. There would be loss of diversity.

Now Salinity of oceans would increase or decrease is a matter of debate. With evaporation of sea water salinity would increase. Again, polar ice caps would melt and add more water and would reduce the salinity.

Increase in water level would mean the sea water entering lakes and even polluting freshwater water bodies and aquifers.

What would be the exact outcome on salinity  is debatable, but we can extrapolate what has happened in the past.

In the past century, the temperature has increased and even with some ice melting the net effect has been – increase in the salinity of sea water.