A new study published in Environmental Research Letters has revealed that the rate of ocean warming has more than quadrupled over the past 40 years. Researchers explain this rapid increase in sea temperatures as a significant factor behind the record-high ocean temperatures observed in 2023 and early 2024.
Ocean Warming Accelerates Dramatically
The study shows that ocean temperatures were increasing by about 0.06 degrees Celsius per decade in the late 1980s. However, this rate has now surged to 0.27 degrees Celsius per decade. Lead author Professor Chris Merchant from the University of Reading, UK, used a vivid analogy to describe the phenomenon:
“If the oceans were a bathtub of water, then in the 1980s, the hot tap was running slowly, warming up the water by just a fraction of a degree each decade. But now the hot tap is running much faster, and the warming has picked up speed.”
The Role of Human Activity and El Niño In Ocean Warming
The study attributes the accelerating ocean warming primarily to human-induced climate change, driven by carbon emissions. It also highlights the impact of El Niño, a natural Pacific warming event, which has intensified sea surface temperature rises over the past decade.
The researchers found that about 44% of the record warmth could be attributed to oceans absorbing heat at an accelerating pace. Merchant emphasized that cutting global carbon emissions and transitioning to net-zero is the only way to slow down this warming trend.
What Warming Of Ocean Means for the Future
The study warns that the rapid warming of the past four decades may be surpassed within the next 20 years, signaling an urgent need for climate action. The findings also stress that ocean surface temperatures significantly influence global warming, setting the pace for broader climate changes.
“This accelerating warming underscores the urgency of reducing fossil fuel burning to prevent even more rapid temperature increases in the future and to begin to stabilize the climate,” the study explains.
Impacts Of Ocean Warming on Marine Life and Human Health
The warming oceans pose risks beyond climate change. Rising sea temperatures can facilitate the spread of diseases among marine species, which may also impact humans. Consumption of affected marine life or exposure to contaminated waters can result in infections or other health issues.
With global ocean temperatures setting records for 450 consecutive days, scientists are urging immediate measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The research underscores the pressing need for international cooperation to address the accelerating pace of ocean warming and mitigate its far-reaching effects on ecosystems, economies, and human health.
