Scientists warn that sharks might experience increased aggression due to the highest recorded ocean surface temperature. According to CNN, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service recorded a new average temperature of 20.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record. The warming seas could cause problems for fish and coral, potentially leading to rising sea levels.
Record-Breaking Warming Oceans Linked to Climate Change, Global Warming
Dr. Simon Boxall from the University of Southampton suggested that sharks' behavior might be affected by changes in ocean temperatures, considering fish's sensitivity to temperature. Copernicus confirmed that the oceans are currently at their hottest ever recorded.
Samantha Burgess told BBC News that the current record-breaking ocean temperatures in August are unsettling since March is typically the warmest month globally based on the climate monitoring service's data.
She expresses concern about how much warmer the oceans might become by next March. The record temperatures are partially attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon, which caused unusual warming in the eastern Pacific Ocean in 2016.
Global warming is also playing a role in driving up ocean temperatures. As fossil fuel consumption continues, excess heat is absorbed by the oceans, delaying their stabilization and return to previous levels.
Dr. Katie Longo from the Marine Stewardship Council warns that such temperature changes could impact fish populations, like cod, which rely on specific breeding times of tiny shrimp-like creatures called copepods for their larvae's food. This environmental change could also result in sharks becoming more aggressive as they navigate warmer conditions.
Dr. Kathryn Lesneski, monitoring a marine heatwave in the Gulf of Mexico, observes a significant temperature rise, affecting coral reefs in Florida. The widespread coral bleaching and deaths are evident consequences of the warming ocean temperatures.
However, Burgess believes that global warming is likely to raise temperatures. "The more we use fossil fuels, the more excess heat the seas absorb, which means it will take longer to stabilize them and return them to where they were," Dr Burgess added.
Scientists Investigate Climate Change Impact on Record-Breaking Heat Absorption
According to MailOnline, scientists are currently investigating the reasons behind the heightened ocean temperatures, attributing much of the warming to climate change as the seas absorb a significant portion of the heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions.
The record-breaking ocean temperature comes after a series of marine heatwaves in various regions, such as the UK, the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Professor Rowan Sutton, affiliated with the University of Reading and National Centre for Atmospheric Science, expresses concern over the warming of the oceans. He highlights that the latest sea surface temperature data from Copernicus indicates not just a record-breaking extreme event, but an unprecedented one on a global scale, with far-reaching impacts.
While short-term factors contribute to ocean warming, Professor Sutton emphasizes that the primary long-term cause is the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily stemming from human activities like burning fossil fuels. He urges immediate actions to curb future warming and adapt to the significant changes unfolding before us, calling the situation an urgent alarm bell.
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