For an unprecedented 450 days from 2023 to early 2024, global ocean temperatures broke records, triggering powerful hurricanes and raising alarm among scientists. While some of the heat surge can be attributed to El Niño, recent research suggests that 44 percent of this unprecedented warming was due to the oceans absorbing heat at an accelerated rate.
The records set in 2023 and broken in 2024 caught researchers by surprise. In 2023, ocean temperatures rose 0.6°C (1.1°F) above the 1981-2010 average. This figure is even more worrisome given that land temperatures are rising faster than ocean temperatures.
This dramatic increase has profound implications for ocean health. Warming oceans are affecting everything from coral reefs to global fisheries, threatening ecosystems and economies. According to Christopher Merchant, a leading climate scientist, the long-term effects are even more worrisome, including rising sea levels, more destructive storms and increased wildfires.
The data is clear: The Earth is storing more energy, and the oceans are absorbing it at an alarming rate. As this trend continues, the ripple effects on both human life and the environment demand urgent global action.
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