The global mean daily sea surface temperature (TSM) reached 20.96 °C in Augustthe highest level to date, breaking the record 20.95°C set in 2016, according to Copernicus, the European Union’s (EU) Climate Observatory.
Scientists say the record is likely to continue, since the oceans generally reach their maximum temperature globally in March, not August.
“The fact that we’ve now seen the record makes me nervous about how much the ocean will warm between now and March next year,” said Samantha Burgess, Copernicus deputy director.
The temperatures are probably partly due to the El Niño weather phenomenon. However, these weather patterns are likely to be exacerbated by climate change and global warming.
“The more we burn fossil fuels, the more excess heat the oceans will draw, meaning it will take longer to stabilize them and return them to where they were.Burgess told the BBC .
The oceans also regulate climate, absorb heat, drive weather patterns, act as a carbon sink and provide tranquility because cool air blowing in from the sea can make hot temperatures on land more bearable.
However, these beneficial effects diminish as the oceans warm, and warm water also has less ability to absorb carbon dioxide, meaning more greenhouse gases will be in the atmosphere. Guardian.
The warming of the oceans also contributes to the melting of ice, which causes sea levels to rise.
Sea surface temperature measurements taken from ships date back more than 150 years and are among the longest instrumental records available for understanding climate. Measurements from satellites and buoys have also been available for 40 years.
From this data, scientists have found that over the entire period of the records, the global average sea surface temperature has increased by about 0.9 °C, and that the increase over the past four decades is about 0.6 °C.
The latest five-year average is about 0.2° above the average between 1991 and 2020.
Some of the fastest warming areas include parts of the Arctic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and parts of the extratropical Pacific Ocean.
Source: Eluniverso
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