Uncovering Climate Change Secrets: Sea Sponges Reveal Shocking Temperature Increase
The groundbreaking study, published in Nature, utilized sclerosponges to provide a more accurate baseline for pre-industrial global temperatures. Sclerosponges, soft sponges with hard skeletons made of calcium carbonate, were used to track changes in sea temperature over time. The researchers found that human emissions of greenhouse gases have led to a 1.7℃ temperature increase since 1860, which is 0.5℃ higher than previously estimated.
The study focused on specimens of the sclerosponge Ceratoporella nicholsoni from the eastern Caribbean, a region unaffected by temperature fluctuations from El Niño/La Niña cycles or Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. This allowed for a more stable and representative record of ocean temperatures compared to surface layer data. The samples were collected from the upper-ocean mixed layer at depths between 33 and 91 meters, providing valuable insights into historical temperature trends.
Prior to this study, estimates of pre-industrial temperatures were based on ship-based records dating back to the 1850s, which had large uncertainties and limited coverage. By utilizing the chemical composition of sclerosponges, the researchers were able to reconstruct past temperatures more accurately. The study was part of the Deep Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (Deep-CRES) project, with funding from NCCOS and NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.
This research highlights the urgent need to address global warming and its impact on the Earth’s temperature. The use of sclerosponges as a tool for climate research provides valuable insights into historical temperature trends and emphasizes the importance of taking action to mitigate the effects of climate change.