Atlantic Ocean Records Highest Temperatures on Record
Introduction
If you were to dip your toes into the middle of the North Atlantic — say, somewhere between South Carolina and Spain — the water would feel frigid. You definitely wouldn’t want to swim. It’s winter.
Yet that water would, in fact, be very warm, relatively speaking. Right now, the North Atlantic ocean is, on average, warmer than any other time on record, running about 2 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the average temperature over the last three decades.
Unprecedented Ocean Warming
To understand just how unusual this is, take a look at the chart below. The wave of squiggly lines represents the sea surface temperature, averaged across the North Atlantic, from 1981 to now; each squiggle is a different year.
A new study in the journal Nature Climate Change indicates that the planet has already surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, a limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
The Effects of a Hot Atlantic
The record-breaking temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean have dire consequences for marine ecosystems and human populations. As the oceans warm, it can alter the growth, behavior, and distribution of marine life.
Plankton, the basis of the marine food chain, is already being affected by the warming waters. Plankton communities are changing, disrupting the balance of the entire ecosystem. Fish are becoming smaller and fisheries are shifting towards the poles, impacting both the fishing industry and the consumers who rely on it.
Climate Change and Hurricane Season
A hot winter in the Atlantic could also be a bad sign for this year’s hurricane season. Warm sea surface temperatures in February often correlate with active hurricane seasons.
In the coming months, there are forecasts that El Niño may transition into La Niña, increasing the likelihood of hurricane conditions in the Atlantic. All signs point to an active hurricane season.
Conclusion
The Atlantic Ocean is experiencing record-breaking temperatures, with the waters becoming hotter than ever. This anomaly is deeply troubling, as it is a clear indication that our planet is continuing to heat up. The consequences of this warming trend are severe and include the disruption of marine ecosystems and increased hurricane activity. As we face these challenges, it becomes crucial that we take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
