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Over the past four decades, global oceans have absorbed heat at an accelerating rate, leading to unprecedented temperature records. A recent study reveals that ocean warming has quadrupled since the late 1980s, with today’s rates reaching 0.27°C (0.49°F) per decade—a stark contrast to the slower 0.06°C (0.11°F) increments of earlier decades. This surge in ocean warming has driven record-breaking sea surface temperatures, breaking 450 consecutive days of temperature highs in 2023 and early 2024.
Professor Chris Merchant, a lead author of the study, likens the trend to a bathtub filling with hot water, noting that while ocean warming may have started slowly in the past, it has now sped up significantly. The rapid heating of oceans is tied to Earth’s growing energy imbalance, driven by rising greenhouse gas concentrations and reduced planetary reflectivity due to melting polar ice and cloud cover changes.
Oceans act as Earth’s primary heat sink, absorbing over 90% of excess solar energy. The study highlights that 44% of the recent El Niño-driven ocean temperature record can be attributed to accelerated heat absorption. Even compared to the intense 2015–2016 El Niño event, 2023–2024 stands out due to its faster warming trend over the past decade.
The study emphasizes that natural climate cycles like El Niño contribute to short-term temperature spikes but human activities amplify their effects. Oceans have already warmed at unprecedented rates, and recent studies suggest that even moderate natural variability now leads to higher temperatures than in previous centuries.
The findings underscore that ocean warming is not a distant threat but an immediate crisis. Every delayed action exacerbates the “hot tap,” creating escalating risks for future generations. The study warns that failing to curb emissions could lead to irreversible damage, with trillions of dollars in economic and ecological costs annually by mid-century.
Investments in renewable energy and climate resilience offer long-term savings and job creation, while inaction risks catastrophe.
The study’s conclusions are a stark reminder that ocean warming is not merely an abstract concern but an imminent crisis requiring urgent global action. Every year of delayed effort compounds the risks, leaving little time to reverse the damage being done.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-broke-records-for-450-straight-days