A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals that ocean warming is happening at an alarming rate, increasing more than four times faster than in the 1980s. The rate of warming has surged from 0.06 degrees Celsius per decade in the late 1980s to 0.27 degrees Celsius per decade today.
The study suggests that human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are intensifying a growing energy imbalance in the Earth’s system, which is driving the rapid rise in ocean temperatures. The oceans’ ability to absorb and retain heat has increased significantly over the past four decades, with 44% of record warmth attributed to this accelerated process.
The findings indicate that the current rate of global ocean warming may not be a reliable indicator of future changes. Instead, scientists predict that ocean temperature increases will accelerate in the next 20 years, leading to even faster warming and underscoring the need to reduce fossil fuel burning to prevent more rapid temperature increases.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/shocking-fourfold-spike-in-ocean-warming-sparks-global-concern