Unprecedented surge in ocean temperature has started threatening marine, as well as human, lives worldwide in recent times. Researchers have claimed that the heat spikes could lead to potentially severe repercussions for the well-being of various species in the near future.
Colin Price, Head of PlanNet Zero Initiative of Tel Aviv University, recently said: "In the last few months, global ocean temperatures have been way above anything we have seen. We do not really understand why, making it confusing and somewhat scary." He told The Jerusalem Post that oceans cover nearly 70% of the planet Earth, and "some of the extreme weather we are seeing may be related to ocean heatwaves". In its latest report, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has mentioned that the average surface temperature of the oceans recently reached an all-time high of 20.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 20.95 degrees Celsius set in 2016. Commenting on the report, Price has stressed that the trend would seemingly continue, as such high temperatures have been recorded in April, instead of August as seen, usually.
Experts are of the opinion that the rising temperatures of oceans are creating troubles for marine creatures and human beings in specific regions. In the last week of July 2023, the surface temperature of the Mediterranean Sea touched 28.71 degrees Celsius (the highest-ever recorded temperature in this sea). A Maritime Research Centre in Spain has revealed that temperatures of the waters around the Florida Keys have soared to over 38 degrees Celsius, potentially setting a new world record.
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has claimed that the North Atlantic, too, is experiencing its warmest conditions. As highs in the Atlantic are usually recorded in September, NOAA expects that temperatures could increase further in the next four weeks. Oceanographer Gregory C Johnson of the NOAA, told CNN: "What we are seeing is a massive increase. It is about 15-year worth of the long-term warming trend in a year." The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), too, has stated that marine heatwaves have doubled between 1982 and 2016, as far as their frequency is concerned. According to the Panel, the heatwaves have grown in duration and intensity since the 1980s, escalating their impact on marine ecosystems and human lives.
Price has explained that the surge in ocean temperature is a serious issue because the oceans mitigate the Climate Crisis by acting as a buffer. They absorb greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to Global Warming. The rising temperature shall certainly make this natural process less efficient, leading to more atmospheric carbon. According to Price, the hot water loses its ability to hold as much gas by becoming flat. Furthermore, ocean temperature directly fuels hurricanes. With the rise of ocean temperatures, hurricanes become more intense. By producing more water vapour, warmer oceans trigger increased rainfalls during storms, contributing to flooding and flash floods.
The impact of warming is evident on marine ecosystems, as well. Price has stated that corals suffer and die off when the temperature rises to a certain extent. It is called Coral Bleaching. Also, excessive ocean warming disrupts the migration patterns of certain species. "We are heading into an El Nino year, a natural phenomenon occurring every few years. During El Nino years, global temperatures tend to be warmer than usual," added Price. After 1997-98 and 2015-16, the world is all set to experience El Nino in 2023-24. "El Nino contributes to the warming and may play an important role in the overall warming of the oceans. However, we have not observed such significant warming in the past El Ninos, indicating that it cannot account for the entire story," stressed Price. He believes that Climate Change is the primary driver of the current warming trend.
It may be noted that the German climate scientists recently revealed that July 2023 was likely the hottest month in about 120,000 years, and more than 80% of the global population experienced heatwaves that would have been statistically unlikely without human-induced Climate Change. In a report prepared by the NGO Climate Central, the German researchers compared the climate shifts in July to a hypothetical world unaffected by Global Warming, with their extensive analysis covering 4,700 cities and 200 countries. They have found that more than four-fifths of the global population encountered temperatures at least three times more probable because of Climate Change.
The report mentioned: "Over 6.5 billion people - 81% of the global population - experienced at least one day in July with Climate Shift Index (CSI) Level Three or higher. A CSI Level Three indicates that human-caused Climate Change made those temperatures at least three times more likely." It added: "At least two billion people felt a very strong influence of Climate Change on each of the 31 days in July. Global exposure peaked on July 10, 2023, when 3.5 billion people worldwide experienced extreme heat at CSI Level Three or higher."
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