A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal of Advances of Atmospheric Sciences revealed that 2021 global ocean temperatures were the hottest ever, caused by human activity. The ocean plays a huge role in climate change as it stores 90% of the heat released into the atmosphere. Hence, increasing ocean temperatures could further accelerate climate change.

The research revealed that the ocean has been heating up decade-on-decade since 1958 compared to the years prior. From 1985, the ocean temperatures has risen by eight times compared to the period from 1958 to 1985.

As ocean temperatures increase, seawater expands causing increased ocean volume and marine heatwaves that can adversely affect coral organisms and other ocean ecosystems. Severe tropical storms and hurricanes, such as Hurricane Ida, can also occur as ocean temperatures rise. Extreme weather patterns such as heavy precipitation that happened at the Midwest during late last year are also tied to rising ocean temperatures.

Michael Mann, the co-author of the paper from Penn State University, said, “The oceans will continue to warm until net carbon emissions go to zero. Ocean warming is destabilising Antarctic ice shelves and threatens massive meters sea level if we don’t act.”

Source: https://www.axios.com/global-ocean-temperatures-record-high-935b1b7e-2adf-4759-b8a6-d4747a94c809.html