This captivating photograph of the Pacific Ocean was captured by the International Space Station as it orbited the Earth in April 2022, providing a unique perspective of our planet. The picture, courtesy of NASA, serves as a reminder of the immense beauty and importance of our oceans.
However, beneath the surface lies a grave concern. As global warming continues, the oceans play a crucial role in absorbing the majority of the excess heat. According to Baylor Fox-Kemper, a professor at Brown University, over 90% of the energy resulting from climate change is stored in warmer oceans, both at the surface and at depth.
With the Earth’s surface being covered by 70% water, the ocean possesses an incredible capacity for absorbing large amounts of energy. Carlos E. Del Castillo, head of NASA’s Ocean Ecology Laboratory, highlights the heat-absorbing properties of water by comparing it to a pot of boiling water and an empty pot on a stove. The water, with its high heat capacity, barely changes temperature after a minute, while the metal pot would burn to the touch. This simple analogy helps us understand the concept of heat capacity.
This phenomenon of water’s high heat capacity explains why even a small increase in ocean temperature can result in the absorption of vast quantities of heat. As evidence of this ongoing process, record-breaking ocean temperatures of 101 degrees off the coast of Florida have been witnessed. July 2023 was declared the warmest month since NASA began keeping records in 1880.
According to Benjamin Kirtman, a professor at the University of Miami, this warming trend signifies an escalation in the effects of climate change. It paves the way for more extreme weather events such as heatwaves, marine heatwaves, droughts, floods, strong winds, and wildfires.
The primary contributor to the increasing heat of the oceans is the emission of greenhouse gases. By trapping more heat in the climate system, these gases cause the ocean to absorb more heat and consequently warm further. The correlation between greenhouse gas concentrations and ocean temperature is undeniable, according to Kirtman.
On July 31, 2023, the global average sea surface temperature reached a record high of 69.73 degrees Fahrenheit. This milestone was identified by Copernicus, an Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space program. However, it’s worth noting that this measurement is taken about 33 feet below the ocean’s surface in a region beyond the polar areas.
The previous record was set in March 2016, primarily due to the warm waters of the southern hemisphere during that time. The El Niño weather pattern and the steady warming of the oceans caused by climate change contribute to such extreme temperatures. They result from the self-reinforcing nature of warming and cooling sea surface temperature patterns, which alter wind and precipitation patterns.
These record-breaking sea surface temperatures are part of a larger trend. Over the past decade, sea surface temperatures have consistently been the warmest since records began, indicating a sustained heating of the oceans.
Currently, approximately 44% of the global ocean is experiencing a “marine heatwave,” which occurs when ocean temperatures exceed 90% of previous observations for that region at that time of year. The widespread nature of these heatwaves reveals the significant impact of the warming oceans.
The consequences of hotter oceans extend beyond temperature records. Strong storms, such as hurricanes and cyclones, derive their energy from warm, moist air near the ocean’s surface. Warmer seawater leads to warmer and moister air, resulting in more energy for these storms. It explains why they often follow warm ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio.
The evaporation of water vapor from the ocean surface fuels the intensity of these storms. Evaporation is directly influenced by ocean temperatures and wind speed. Even slight changes in temperature can have a disproportionate impact on evaporation rates, leading to a positive feedback loop. As water vapor condenses, it releases heat into the atmosphere, intensifying the storms further.
Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist, emphasizes the criticality of ocean temperatures in regions prone to hurricane development, such as the deep tropical Atlantic. Forecasting organizations like NOAA closely monitor these areas to provide accurate seasonal hurricane outlooks based on temperature data.
In conclusion, the rising temperatures of our oceans pose significant risks and challenges. The warming trend, influenced by climate change and intensified by greenhouse gas emissions, has led to record-breaking sea surface temperatures. As the oceans absorb more heat, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, are likely to increase. Our understanding of these interconnected systems is essential to mitigate the adverse effects and preserve the delicate balance of life on Earth.
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