What Fish Tanks Teach Us About Global Warming

Banner image: Photo by Markus Spiske: https://www.pexels.com/photo/climate-road-landscape-people-2990650/

 

Today’s musing, which will be a little more informal, comes from George (name changed for privacy), who made a comment on TikTok about global warming:

“Why are scientists making such a big deal about global warming? The Earth goes through cycles of warming and cooling. This is natural. Quit fearmongering.”

George’s comment is something I’ve heard plenty of times. And yes, he’s not wrong that the Earth naturally warms and cools over time. But here’s the thing: what we’re experiencing now isn’t just your average “natural cycle.” It’s like comparing a gentle tide to a tsunami—the scale and speed of what’s happening today are unprecedented.

Let’s break it down and talk about why this is happening, how it’s affecting our planet, and why we should all care—with some relatable examples along the way. If you would like to learn more about global warming check out the sources I've linked at the bottom of this post.

*As always, Content published on Perryman's Premade's including Miscellaneous Morning Musings, Book Review Baddy, and News Blogs, including blog posts, theories, and opinions, are purely opinion-based and intended for entertainment and educational purposes. The ideas shared are meant to be thought-provoking and to stimulate meaningful discussions about a variety of topics.

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The Earth’s Temperature Trends (Or, Why This Time Is Different)

Think of the Earth like your favorite playlist. Sure, it’s got its highs and lows, but right now, it’s like someone cranked the volume up to max in a matter of seconds. Over millions of years, the planet has naturally gone through cycles—ice ages and warmer interglacial periods—thanks to things like volcanic eruptions, changes in the Sun’s energy, or shifts in Earth’s orbit. These cycles happened gradually, giving ecosystems and species time to adapt.

But today’s warming isn’t gradual. Global temperatures have shot up by about 1.2°C (2.2°F) since the late 1800s, and most of that has happened in just the last 40 years. It’s like if your fish tank temperature jumped a few degrees overnight—the fish might survive a small change, but anything too fast or too extreme throws the whole system out of whack. Ice core data shows that CO2 levels in the atmosphere are now higher than they’ve been in over 800,000 years, and the oceans, which act like the planet’s heat sponge, are absorbing over 90% of this extra heat. That’s where the trouble starts.

Photo by imsogabriel Stock: https://www.pexels.com/photo/goldfish-in-water-2053815/

 

Oceans: The World’s Fish Tank

Imagine you have a fish tank at home. You’ve got fish swimming around, maybe some coral and plants. If you raise the water temperature by a degree or two, the fish might get a little stressed but probably survive. Now imagine you crank it up by 5 degrees. Suddenly, the coral starts bleaching because it’s releasing the tiny organisms that feed it. The fish stop breeding. Push it further, and everything starts to die.

That’s what’s happening in the Earth’s oceans. Rising temperatures are causing coral reefs—the rainforests of the sea—to bleach and die, which devastates entire marine ecosystems. Fish species are migrating to cooler waters, leaving communities that depend on fishing struggling to adapt. And plankton, the microscopic heroes that form the base of the marine food web, are declining in some areas because they can’t handle the heat. Without plankton, it’s like pulling the rug out from under the entire ocean ecosystem.

Photo by Johannes Plenio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/trees-near-pathway-1102912/

 

Forests: The Earth’s Air Conditioners

Forests are like nature’s AC units. Picture a hot summer day. You’re outside, and the sun is beating down. But when you step into a dense forest, it’s noticeably cooler. That’s because the trees provide shade and release water vapor into the air, cooling it down in a process called transpiration. It’s like a natural evaporative cooler.

Now imagine cutting down that forest. Suddenly, there’s no shade, no cooling effect, and the area becomes hotter. This is exactly what’s happening with deforestation. We’re losing these natural coolers at an alarming rate, which not only heats up local areas but also releases massive amounts of stored CO2 into the atmosphere, making global warming even worse.

What’s Really Driving Global Warming

Here’s the short answer: us. Human activities are the main culprits behind today’s rapid warming. Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas releases CO2 and methane, trapping heat in the atmosphere like a blanket you can’t kick off. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, produces methane, a greenhouse gas much more potent than CO2. Industrial processes and deforestation only add to the problem.

It’s like if your fish tank’s filter stopped working and you kept adding dirty water. The ecosystem can only handle so much before everything starts breaking down.

How Global Warming Affects What’s on Your Plate

Let’s talk about food. Rising temperatures don’t just affect oceans; they mess with crops and animals on land too. Crops like wheat, rice, and corn are super sensitive to changes in temperature and rainfall. Too much heat or too little water, and they don’t grow well. That means higher food prices and potential shortages.

And it’s not just crops. Bees and other pollinators, which are responsible for one-third of the food we eat, are declining because of habitat loss and climate change. Fewer bees mean fewer fruits, vegetables, and nuts on your table.

Why Should You Care?

I get it. Global warming can feel like a distant problem, something that’ll affect future generations more than us. But the truth is, it’s already here. Stronger storms, rising sea levels, and disrupted food supplies are just the beginning. The good news? We have the tools to address it. By reducing emissions, protecting forests, and investing in renewable energy, we can start turning the tide.

So, George, you’re right that the Earth’s climate has always changed. But what’s happening now isn’t just another cycle—it’s a crisis we need to face head-on. Think of it as fixing your fish tank before the whole ecosystem collapses. Together, we can make a difference.

 

Sources

1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Climate Change: Evidence https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - Sixth Assessment Report https://www.ipcc.ch/

3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Coral Reefs https://www.noaa.gov/

4. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Forest Cooling Effects https://www.unep.org/

5. World Resources Institute (WRI) - Global Agriculture and Food Security https://www.wri.org/

6. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - Impact of Climate Change on Fisheries https://www.fao.org/