An unprecedented marine heatwave has hit the waters off the coast of Great Britain and Ireland, with sea temperatures several degrees above normal, breaking records for late spring and early summer and posing a grave threat to marine life. The Guardian reports: The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that global sea surface temperatures in April and May hit record highs for those months, according to records dating back to 1850, and that June is also expected to reach record heat levels. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has classified parts of the North Sea as Category 4 “extreme” marine heatwaves, with areas off the coast of England up to 5 degrees warmer than normal. The Japan Meteorological Agency said that temperatures could remain high due to the emergence of El Niño.
“The extreme and unprecedented temperatures demonstrate the combined power of human-induced warming and natural climate variability such as El Niño,” said Daniela Schmidt, professor of geosciences at the University of Bristol. are found in warm waters such as: In the Mediterranean, such anomalous temperatures in this part of the North Atlantic are unheard of. This is related not only to the reduction of dust from the Sahara Desert, but also to climate change in the North Atlantic, which requires further understanding to elucidate. How many times have we seen that in other parts of the world, marine heatwaves have caused mass mortality of marine flora and fauna, resulting in hundreds of millions of pounds in losses in fisheries income, carbon stocks, cultural values and habitat loss. or have witnessed Unless we drastically cut our emissions, these heatwaves will continue to destroy our ecosystems. But since this is happening below sea level, it won’t be noticed. ”
Dr. Dan Sumer of the Marine Biological Society, who has been studying marine heatwaves for more than a decade, was amazed by the temperatures. “I always thought they would never affect the ecosystem in the cold waters around the UK and Ireland, but this is unprecedented and probably devastating. “The current water temperature is too hot, yet not lethal to most species, but stressful for many.” If it continues into summer, we may see mass die-off of kelp, seaweed, fish and oysters. ”
“Both the Meteorological Service and NOAA analyzes of sea surface temperature show that temperatures are at record highs, and average sea surface temperature is the first ever,” said Piers Foster, professor of climate physics at the University of Leeds. We broke 21 degrees,” he said. This time of April. These high temperatures are largely caused by an unprecedented rate of human-induced warming. The removal of sulfur from marine fuels is thought to contribute to further warming from greenhouse gases. The transition to El Niño is also increasing the heat. “There is also evidence that there is less Saharan sand on the ocean this year, which is usually a reflection of heat from the ocean. So the ocean is suffering from a quadruple whammy. It’s a sign of what’s to come.”
Other Articles
Harvey L. Frierson Jr. Releases ‘Leading with Emotion’
Black Music Festival coming to Worcester Common
