Ocean temperatures have been reaching record highs, with significant consequences for the environment, marine life, and human populations. The North Atlantic, for example, has experienced record daily warmth since early March 2023. The average global sea surface temperature has increased by about 1.5°F since 1901, with the past three decades being consistently higher than any other time since records began in 1880.
Higher sea surface temperatures lead to an increase in water vapor over the oceans, raising the risk of heavy rain and snow events. These higher temperatures can also shift storm tracks and contribute to droughts in some areas. Warmer ocean waters are implicated in the thinning of ice shelves and sea ice, both of which have further consequences for Earth's climate system.
Rising ocean temperatures can cause marine species to shift their distribution due to their dependence on specific water temperatures and nutrient availability. Warmer waters cause coral bleaching, which impacts coral reef ecosystems that are home to a diverse array of marine biodiversity and provide crucial sources of food for people. Changes in water temperatures can directly affect the development and growth of most fish and cephalopods, such as octopus and squid. This has implications for the 3 billion people who rely on fish as a major source of protein.
A warming ocean temperature also causes sea levels to rise through thermal expansion. Combined with water from melting glaciers on land, the rising sea threatens natural ecosystems and human structures near coastlines around the world.
More than 90% of global warming is occurring in the ocean. The ocean has absorbed 90% of the excess heat in Earth's system in recent decades due to rising greenhouse gases. This has led to a rapid surge in global ocean temperatures in recent months, raising concerns about a climate pattern shift that could accelerate planetary warming and supercharge trends that already fuel extreme storms, deadly heat waves, and ecological crises on land and sea.
In July 2023, a buoy in Manatee Bay, Florida, reported a preliminary high ocean temperature of 101.1°F, which could be a global record. Such high water temperatures are extremely uncommon, and scientists have categorized the marine heat wave in the region as unprecedented. Global sea temperatures in May and June 2023 were also at record highs.
In conclusion, record sea temperatures have far-reaching implications for the environment, marine life, and human populations. The consequences of these rising temperatures include changes in climate and weather systems, impacts on marine life and ecosystems, sea level rise, and increased ocean heat content. As ocean temperatures continue to rise, it is crucial to address the underlying causes and mitigate the potential impacts on both the environment and human populations.