Cyclones in the Ocean


A hurricane naturally forms over the ocean where there is enough warm water to fuel it. Based on that fact alone, it is obvious that the first area that is greatly affected is none other than the surrounding area where a hurricane begins. As the warm water is tossed and mixes with the colder waters below, the crushing waves generated may extend deep below, damging marine life that are unfortunate enough to be caught in its wake.

Species affected consists generally of slow moving fish and sea turtles which are decimated in large numbers since they can't sense the change in water temperature or salinity that comes with hurricane characteristics.

Larger sea creatures such as sharks and whales have the ability to sense these subtle changes and therefore swim to calmer areas beforehand. Thus, larger marine life tend not to be extensively affected by hurricane conditions.

Stationary species include the coral polyps. They are forced to take the full brunt of hurricanes and reportedly, their numbers have decreased throughout the years by 15-20%. The sudden change in salinity caused by rains stresses out the corals and contribute to their demise.

Once a cyclone devastates a part of the ocean, what is left behind reflects poorly on the ecosystem as debris now begins to float freely. Corpses of varying marine life litter these calm oceans. They may stay and decay due to little to no scavengers risking the opportunity to feast on them.

Sources:
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/hurricanes-sea-life.html

https://ocean.si.edu/planet-ocean/waves-storms-tsunamis/hurricanes-and-marine-life?amp

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