Brussels: World’s oceans set new surface temperatures as it broke the 7-year record and hit its highest-ever level this week, Euro News reported citing Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This week, the average surface temperature of the world’s oceans reached 20.96C, breaking the 2016 record of 20.95C. The ocean temperature records are being broken around the world with dire consequences for the health of the planet.
Scientists believe that the record is likely to be broken in future as well as temperatures are usually highest in March, not August. And this is not a good signal for the Earth.
Also Read: Reducing Eco-Anxiety Is A Critical Step In Achieving Any Climate Action
It follows a pattern of marine heatwaves and record sea surface temperatures around the world.
Meanwhile, the Mediterranean Sea recorded its highest-ever surface temperature last week at 28.71C. Waters around the Florida Keys were similar to the temperature of a hot tub, hitting highs of just over 38C and possibly breaking a world record.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also reported last Friday that the North Atlantic may be the hottest it has ever been. And it’s getting hotter much earlier in the year with previous records set in September, according to Euro News.
The rise in the ocean’s temperature will impact the climate as they are the ones that absorb heat, drive weather patterns and act as a carbon sink but if they keep getting warmer then it will be less effective at doing this job.
The cycle means that as ocean temperatures rise, they become less effective at absorbing CO2 leading to an increase in the amount of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
Ice also melts as waters warm increasing the severity of sea level rise. And high ocean temperatures can also increase the chance of hurricanes, cyclones, storms and extreme weather.
Hotter oceans also have an effect on marine life with whales and some fish species moving to cooler waters which upsets the food chain. The record-high temperatures also put corals at risk with reefs off the coast of Florida now facing a severe threat of bleaching due to the marine heatwave, reported Euro News.
Earlier, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that “short of a mini-ice age” in the coming days, July 2023 would likely “shatter records across the board”.
Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning,
said the UN chief, warning that the consequences are as clear as they are tragic:
Children swept away by monsoon rains, families running from the flames (and) workers collapsing in scorching heat, Mr Guterres said.
Speaking at UN Headquarters, the Secretary-General underscored the need for global action on emissions, climate adaptation and climate finance.
He warned that “the era of global warming has ended” and “the era of global boiling has arrived.”
Although climate change is evident, “we can still stop the worst,” he said. “But to do so we must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
