Global ocean temperatures reached a historic peak in February, as scientists report that the combined effects of human-induced carbon emissions and the El Niño weather phenomenon have pushed sea temperatures to unprecedented levels.
Accounting for over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, oceans play a crucial role in regulating our planet’s climate. They have absorbed approximately 90 percent of the excess heat generated by human activities since the industrial revolution, acting as a buffer against more extreme atmospheric temperatures.
For the past decade, ocean temperatures have been on a steady upward trajectory. However, last year marked a significant escalation, with scientists describing the temperature rise as “off the charts.” This alarming increase is attributed to the interplay between sustained carbon pollution and the natural, but intensifying, El Niño effect.
In February 2024, this trend reached a new milestone. According to data released on Thursday by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the average sea surface temperature soared to 21.06 degrees Celsius—the highest monthly average ever recorded.
Not only did the oceans experience record warmth, but February also became the hottest February on record globally. This marks the ninth consecutive month of unprecedented global temperatures, highlighting a persistent pattern of climatic anomalies.
“Our civilization has never had to cope with this climate,” remarked Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S. He emphasized the “remarkable” heat levels in the upper oceans, underscoring how much energy and carbon the oceans have absorbed from human activities. This absorption has profound implications for marine ecosystems and weather patterns worldwide.
The significance of these findings cannot be overstated. The oceans’ increasing temperatures influence global weather systems, contribute to sea-level rise, and threaten marine life. Scientists caution that the climate-related records shattered in the past year, particularly in ocean temperatures, may herald more extreme environmental changes if global carbon emissions are not curbed.
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Carbon emissions and El Niño push oceans to record temperatures
cgtn.com
