Rising Sea Temperatures: What Lies Ahead
Recent studies highlight alarming trends in global sea temperatures, which have been steadily breaking records. The oceans, absorbing 90% of excess heat and significant carbon emissions, are reaching their limits in mitigating climate change impacts. Events like El Niño exacerbate these trends, leading to phenomena such as marine heatwaves, coral bleaching, and declining oxygen levels. These changes threaten marine ecosystems, global weather patterns, and human livelihoods, underscoring the urgent need for climate action.
Important Points
- Record Sea Temperatures: Global sea temperatures have been at record highs for over a year, exacerbated by El Niño and reduced cooling from La Niña in prior years.
- Marine Heatwaves: The frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves have doubled since 1982, with most attributable to human-caused warming.
- Coral Bleaching: Rising temperatures are causing widespread coral bleaching, with significant impacts on ecosystems from the Great Barrier Reef to the Caribbean.
- Ocean’s Role in Climate Mitigation: The oceans have absorbed most of the excess heat and CO₂ emissions, but their capacity to do so is diminishing.
- Impacts on Human Systems: Warming waters disrupt fisheries, increase storm intensity, and accelerate ice cap melting, leading to rising sea levels.
Read More Here: Dangerous Effects of Rising Sea Temperatures
