The global oceans broke a new surface temperature record this week, reaching 20.96 degrees Celsius, according to data published by the European Observatory "Copernicus" on Friday.
A spokeswoman told AFP that the ocean surface temperature "reached 20.96 degrees Celsius on July 30" according to the observatory's database, while the previous record was 20.95 degrees Celsius in March 2016. This data relates to oceans between latitudes 60 north and south. Hence, it does not include the polar regions.
The oceans absorb 90 percent of the excess heat from the Earth system generated by human activity during the industrial age, and this energy buildup continues to increase as greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere.
Piers Forster, a professor at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, described Copernicus' data as "very robust," noting that it was confirmed by satellite observations and direct sea temperature readings from ships and buoys.
The professor specializing in climate change said: "The heat wave hitting the oceans poses a direct threat to some marine organisms, and we are monitoring signs of coral bleaching in Florida as a direct result of that, and I expect more negative consequences."
Last week, the North Atlantic had an unprecedented average temperature, with surface water temperatures reaching a record 24.9 degrees Celsius on average on July 26, according to data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Monitoring Agency.
Since March, the month when North Atlantic waters begin to warm after winter, the temperature curve has moved much higher than in previous years, with the gap widening further in recent weeks.
Hence, the North Atlantic has become a symbolic observation point for the warming of the planet's oceans under the influence of global warming caused by greenhouse gases. A few days ago, the Mediterranean Sea surpassed its daily temperature record with an average of 28.71°C, according to Spain's main marine research centre.
0 Comments