Global alert: the rate of ocean warming has nearly doubled since 2005

2024-10-02 16:55:18

We soon Report prepared by Copernicus – the climate monitoring component of the European space system-, Say the rate of warming of the oceans has nearly doubled since 2005with a 22% of the world’s oceans will experience at least one severe or extreme heat wave by 2023..

According to this report, Global ocean warming started around 1960 with a rate of 0.58 watts per square meter, but In the last two years, this rate has risen to 1.05 watts per square meter. This is normal that greatly affects all areas of the world, although with different intensities.

In the first 2,000 meters of sea, The largest areas affected by long-term warming are the North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Southern Ocean.. Likewise, the The frequency and duration of water heat waves has also increased significantly, Since, since 2008, the duration of these events has increased from 20 to 40 days on average, while the extent has grown from 20% to 40% of the world’s surface. According to the report, These events were relatively stable before the 2000s.

Hot oceans: Europe in trouble

For your part, In Europe, heat waves have reached record numbers in 2022, where, for example, in the month of August of that year, the Mediterranean Sea recorded a temperature of 29.2ºC in the coastal waters of IThe Balearic Islandsthe highest in 40 years. Hydrothermal vents also reach depths of up to 1,500 metersis true that forces extend across surfaces. Furthermore, the northwestern part of Europe has been affected, even in winter.

The frequency and duration of water heat waves have greatly affected coastal areas, such as the English Channel and the Baltic Sea, where two-thirds of the surface will experience these events by 2022. The region of Iberia, Vizcaya and Ireland suffered a heat wave that lasted for a total of 145 days.with temperatures up to 6ºC above normal. In this case, the study proved that Almost all the heat waves in the Iberian Peninsula in 2022 are more intense than those in 1997.

The report also reflects that Deep ocean warming is irreversible over hundreds or even thousands of years. This increase in temperature, caused by eating and anxiety energy imbalance generated by humans, affect the physical and biogeochemical processes of the ocean and aquatic life. Furthermore, sIts effects extend beyond the sea, since it plays an important role in regulating the flow of water, heat and carbon throughout the planet.

“Global warming is a global threat with far-reaching effects, since this phenomenonit affects not only marine biodiversity, but also climate patterns and coastal ecosystems, with consequences that can last for many centuries.“, they concluded from Copernicus.