The Importance of Oceans

The oceans are very important to us. Without them, there's very little chance we could live and thrive as we do today. As such, the oceans should receive special care and be protected rather than exploited. The ocean provides a variety of ecological and economic services that are vital to us. It is startling that we know so little about the oceans that surround us every day. In fact, it is true that we know more about the surface of the moon than the oceans that cover the earth. Some of the limiting problems is the great pressure towards the bottom of the oceans prevents vessels and even unmanned vehicles from reaching. However, we are making good progress each day to discovering the secrets of the oceans.
The ocean provides us with valuable ecological services. First, it does a great job of climate moderation. As you might have noticed, the ecosystems around the shorelines experience less fluctuation in weather because of the direct influence of the ocean. Summers are less hot and winters less cold. The ocean also absorbs carbon dioxide or CO2 that would otherwise contribute to global warming. Next, the ocean serves as waste treatment and dilution in addition to reducing the impact of storms and other disasters. Mangroves, barrier islands, and coastal wetlands all absorb the impact of the storms. The ocean is also a giant habitat and nursery for marine and even terrestrial species. It has, by far, the largest source of genetic resources and biodiversity in the entire world and is a great pool of scientific information that may help us.
The economic services that the ocean provides for us are food. Many fish and seafood are delicious and we simply cannot do without them. Just like the rainforests, the ocean is a large source of the pharmaceutics that are being produced to treat various diseases around the world. Without the ocean, we would be missing key genetic information that might help us develop a cure someday. Many people also depend on the ocean as a coastal habitat and the ocean is a major transportation and trade route for many nations. Let's not forget the recreational value of the ocean along with the beaches. It earns many billions of dollars every year in tourism. Offshore drilling for oil and natural gas is also a giant industry
Overall, the ocean provides us with many important and valuable resources so we should treat it with respect and care for it.