New data has revealed a concerning reality for our planet: the oceans have reached their highest recorded temperature, bringing bleak implications for the environment and marine life. According to the Copernicus, a European Union climate change agency, the global average daily sea surface temperature reached 20.96ºC this week, surpassing the previous record set in 2016. This temperature is significantly above average for this time of year.
The oceans play a crucial role in regulating the planet's climate. They are essential for heat absorption, producing half of the Earth's oxygen, and controlling weather patterns. However, warmer waters have less capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, leading to increased global warming. Moreover, the rising concentration of gases in the atmosphere contributes to accelerated glacier melting, resulting in rising sea levels.
The impacts of warmer waters and heatwaves are evident in marine life, affecting species like fish and whales that migrate to colder waters, disrupting the marine food chain. The temperature rise can also make some predator animals, such as sharks, more aggressive due to the confusion caused by higher temperatures.
Unfortunately, the state of the oceans is even more alarming. There is widespread coral bleaching in shallow reefs in Florida, and many corals have already died due to the monitored marine heatwave by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Scientists warn that we are subjecting the oceans to more stress than ever before in history, with pollution and overfishing also contributing to these impacts.
Climate change is directly linked to ocean warming, as the seas absorb the majority of the heat from greenhouse gas emissions. The more fossil fuels we burn, the more heat is absorbed by the oceans, prolonging the stabilization and cooling process.
Furthermore, the current record for average temperature surpasses the one set in 2016 when the El Niño climate phenomenon was at its strongest, raising global temperatures. Another El Niño is currently underway, and scientists predict ocean temperatures will rise even further in the coming months.
Marine heatwaves are occurring in unusual and more frequent locations, affecting areas such as the UK, the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Gulf of Mexico. This indicates a concerning scenario of ocean warming worldwide.
While air temperatures have seen dramatic increases in recent years, oceans take longer to warm up. However, there are now signs that ocean temperatures are rising rapidly. Scientists are still investigating the exact causes of this sharp increase compared to previous years, but one theory suggests that heat stored in the deep ocean is surfacing, possibly related to the El Niño phenomenon.
Urgent action must be taken to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ocean preservation is crucial for life on Earth, and awareness of the impact of human activities on the climate is essential to ensure a sustainable future. The record-breaking increase in ocean temperatures should serve as a wake-up call for the importance of taking action now for the environment and the preservation of marine resources.
SOURCE: https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/articles/c9wxl4x7pmlo
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