“Ocean Warming Quadruples in Four Decades: Study Reveals Alarming Trend”
The rate of ocean warming has more than quadrupled over the past four decades, according to a new study published in Environmental Research Letters on Tuesday, 28 January 2025. The study, led by Professor Chris Merchant from the University of Reading, reveals that ocean temperatures were rising at a rate of 0.06 degrees Celsius per decade in the late 1980s, but have now increased to 0.27 degrees Celsius per decade.
This significant acceleration in ocean warming helps to explain the unprecedented ocean temperatures experienced in 2023 and early 2024. Professor Merchant likened the oceans to a bathtub, stating that in the 1980s, the hot tap was running slowly, gradually warming the water, but now the hot tap is running much faster, leading to a rapid increase in temperature. He emphasized the importance of reducing global carbon emissions and moving towards net-zero to slow down this warming trend.
The study attributes this accelerating ocean warming to the Earth’s growing energy imbalance, where more energy from the Sun is being absorbed in the Earth system than is escaping back to space. This imbalance has doubled since 2010, primarily due to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and reduced sunlight reflection.
Global ocean temperatures broke records for 450 consecutive days in 2023 and early 2024, with a significant portion of this warmth attributed to the oceans absorbing heat at an accelerating rate. While some of the warmth was due to the natural phenomenon of El Niño, the study found that the sea surface has been warming faster in the past decade compared to previous years.
The findings suggest that the rate of global ocean warming observed in recent decades may not accurately predict future trends. It is possible that the increase in ocean temperatures seen over the past 40 years could be surpassed in the next 20 years. This accelerated warming of the oceans highlights the urgent need to reduce fossil fuel consumption to prevent further temperature rises and stabilize the climate.
As the surface oceans play a crucial role in driving global warming, addressing the issue of ocean warming is essential in mitigating the impacts of climate change. The study underscores the importance of taking immediate action to curb carbon emissions and transition to sustainable energy sources to combat the escalating threat of ocean warming and its consequences on the environment.