In data collected from more than 460,000 oceanic readings, a first-ever assessment of overall ocean salinity conducted by Australian scientists has found that global warming is leading to certain ocean regions becoming more salt-concentrated, while others are more diluted with fresh water.

Increases in surface water temperature cause more water to be evaporated from some areas, which is then transferred to other regions and released as water in the form of rain or snow.

Researchers Dr. Susan Wijffels and Paul Durack of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) found that the geographic areas most affected by evaporation were subtropical oceans like the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic, while tropical and higher latitude waters were becoming more diluted through additional precipitation.

Moreover, measurements made below the water’s surface indicate that these changes in salinity are extending into deep ocean currents, with the scientists stating that the effect on human lives could be far-reaching as already-dry regions become dryer, and areas that receive high amounts of rainfall are even more inundated.

Our thanks, Dr. Wijffels, Mr. Durack and fellow Australian scientists for your detailed assessment that reveals this widespread effect of climate change.

May we heed the warning signs of such large-scale disturbances and act swiftly to stabilize our ecosystems. At a May 2009 videoconference in Togo, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke, as on previous occasions, of the vital importance of restoring balance to the world’s oceans.


http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/04/ocean-saltiness-shows-global-warming-is-intensifying-our-water-
cycle.php
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/04/16/ocean.salinities.show.intensified.water.cycle  
http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article399023.ece  
http://www.csiro.au/