Record-Breaking Ocean Heat Wave Sweeps the World
NEW YORK — The world’s oceans have now experienced an entire year of unprecedented heat, with a new temperature record broken every day, new data shows.
Global Ocean Surface Temperatures Shatter Records
Global ocean surface temperatures started breaking daily records in mid-March last year, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, fueling concerns for marine life and extreme weather across the planet.
Experts Sound the Alarm on Ocean Heat
“The amplitude by which previous sea surface temperature records were beaten in 2023, and now again in 2024, is remarkable,” said Joel Hirschi, associate head of marine systems modeling at the National Oceanography Centre in the UK.
Unprecedented Rise in Global Ocean Temperatures
Global average ocean temperatures in 2023 were 0.25 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous year, said Gregory C. Johnson, a NOAA oceanographer. That rise “is equivalent to about two decades’ worth of warming in a single year,” he told CNN. “So it is quite large, quite significant, and a bit surprising.”
Human-Caused Global Warming Supercharges Ocean Heat
Scientists have said ocean heat is being supercharged by human-caused global warming, boosted by El Niño, a natural climate pattern marked by higher-than-average ocean temperatures.
Impact on Marine Life and Global Weather
The main consequences are on marine life and global weather. Global ocean warmth can add more power to hurricanes and other extreme weather events, including scorching heat waves and intense rainfall.
Catastrophic Effects on Coral Reefs
High ocean temperatures are already proving catastrophic for coral. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its seventh mass bleaching event, authorities announced in March following aerial surveys.
Risk of Fourth Global Mass Coral Bleaching Event
Data from NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch tool shows that the world could face a fourth global mass coral bleaching event in the next few months if ocean temperatures remain high.
Ocean Heat Fuels More Ferocious Hurricanes
Ocean heat sets the stage for more ferocious hurricanes. “The warmer the ocean, the more energy to fuel storms is available,” said Karina von Schuckmann, an oceanographer at Mercator Ocean International in France.
Unprecedented Temperatures in the North Atlantic
Temperatures have been unprecedented in the North Atlantic, an area of ocean key to hurricane formation, surprising scientists and raising concerns about the causes.
Increased Risk of Active Hurricane Season
If very high ocean temperatures continue into the second half of 2024 and a La Niña event develops, the risk of a very active hurricane season would increase, experts warn.
Ocean Warming: A Sentinel for Global Warming
About 90% of the world’s excess heat produced by burning fossil fuels is stored in the oceans, making ocean warming a crucial indicator of global warming trends.
Future Outlook: Uncertain Cooling Trends
El Niño is weakening and predicted to dissipate over the next few months, which could potentially level off the record ocean temperatures, but experts caution that predicting when ocean heat will drop is currently impossible.
Long-Term Impact of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
While natural climate variability will cause ocean temperatures to fluctuate, experts warn that as long as greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, we should expect ocean temperatures to continue breaking records in the long term.
