Our oceans are heating up, and it’s happening faster than ever before. According to a new study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the number of days each year that the world’s oceans experience extreme surface heat has tripled over the past 80 years.
Back in the 1940s, the global sea surface saw about 15 days of extreme heat annually. Today, that figure has soared to nearly 50 days per year. Researchers attribute this dramatic increase to global warming, which is responsible for almost half of the occurrence of marine heat waves—periods when sea surface temperatures rise well above normal for an extended time.
“Marine heat waves can devastate underwater ecosystems,” said Xiangbo Feng, a co-author of the study at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading. “Extended periods of unusually warm water can kill coral reefs, destroy kelp forests, and harm seagrass meadows.”
The impacts don’t stop at the ocean floor. The study warns that increased marine heat waves could make our atmosphere less stable, leading to more frequent and powerful tropical storms in some regions. Rising global temperatures are not only making these extreme ocean heat events last longer but also become more intense.
Why does this matter to us? The health of our oceans directly affects weather patterns, food sources, and the overall health of our planet. As young people inheriting this world, understanding and addressing climate change is crucial.
“Our actions today will shape the future of our oceans,” Feng emphasized. “It’s essential that we take steps to reduce global warming and protect marine ecosystems.”
