2024-01-15 13:37:00
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In 2023, the oceans of our planet have recorded an unprecedented level of heat absorption since records began. This is revealed by a new study, which marks an alarming milestone in global climate history. This report is the latest update of an annual analysis led by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing.
The research team, composed of 34 scientists from 19 organizations in 5 countries, has found that the oceans have been warming at a record rate since 2019. Cheng Lijing, an oceanographer at IAP and lead author of the study, attributes this phenomenon to the constant increase in greenhouse gases generated by human activities.
Cheng emphasizes that the oceans are the main store of excess heat in the Earth system, retaining about 90% of this surplus. As long as greenhouse gas levels remain high in the atmosphere, the oceans will continue to absorb energy and therefore increase their temperature.
The study analyzes two sets of data on heat content in the oceans: one provided by the IAP and the other by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States. According to the IAP, heat stored in the first 2,000 meters of the oceans increased by 15 zettajoules during 2023 compared to 2022. For context, total global energy consumption in 2022 was approximately 0.6 zettajoules.
Implications on sea level and marine life
Svetlana Jevrejeva, a sea level scientist at the National Oceanography Center in Liverpool, United Kingdom, considers it “very alarming” that the record for ocean warming has been broken for the fifth year in a row. She warns that even small changes in ocean temperature can have significant consequences, such as rising sea levels, due to the expansion of water as it warms.
Rapid warming of the oceans could also intensify extreme weather events, as the oceans mediate global weather patterns that determine rainfall, droughts and floods. For his part, William Cheung, a marine ecologist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, points out that ocean warming could cause changes in the distribution of marine life, forcing some species to move towards polar regions or deeper waters.
A warmer ocean could also alter the reproductive and migratory cycles of marine species, as well as affect their body size. Christina Hulbe, a glaciologist at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, emphasizes that as long as the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continues to increase, both the atmosphere and the ocean will continue to warm. However, she highlights that a significant reduction in emissions of these gases could alter this warming trend.
Hulbe warns of the dangers of reaching points of no return if greenhouse gases continue to be produced in large quantities. Although it is not yet clear whether these thresholds have been crossed, it is of utmost importance to stop warming before it is too late.
Global measurements
This situation highlights the urgency of taking global measures to reduce emissions. The scientific community insists that only a concerted and sustained effort at a global level can stop the advance of this phenomenon and mitigate its long-term consequences. The key is decisive action that involves both governments and citizens, oriented towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future..
In conclusion, the study by IAP and its international collaborators not only provides crucial data on the current state of our oceans, but also acts as an urgent call to action. The fight against climate change is, without a doubt, one of the greatest challenges of our era, and the protection of our oceans an essential component in this battle. The task is not easy, but it is essential to guarantee a livable future for future generations.
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