20 June 2023 – New data has been published that shows that the waters around the UK and Ireland are 3°C to 4°C warmer than is normal. This marine heatwave causes scientists to worry.
In recent months, scientists have reported that the surface temperature of the world’s oceans have been heating up. But now new data shows that the waters around the UK and Ireland are experiencing a marine heatwave.
Temperatures of 3°C to 4°C warmer than usual have been recorded. Especially on the east coast of the UK between Durham and Aberdeen and the north-west Irish coast, the water is much warmer.
Such warm temperatures could be damaging to the marine ecosystem and cause harm to marine life.
Marine Heatwave Causes Record Temperatures In North Atlantic
According to the US’s National Oceanic and Atmpospheric Admistration (NOAA), the North Atlantic is experiencing a marine heatwave that the government agency classified as a Category 4 Extreme Heatwave.
Like on land, a heatwave in water is a prolonged period when sea surface temperatures are higher than usual. The European Space Agency (Esa) and the UK’s Met Office have reported that the waters around the UK and Ireland have reached record high temperatures.
While the data shows that pretty much the whole coastline around the British Isles is warmer than normal for this time of year, some areas are several degrees hotter. Around the north-east coast of England and the north-west coast of Ireland, temperatures are particularly high, with up to 5°C warmer than usual.
Sea surface temperatures have reached record highs in April and May, according to the Met Office and June is likely to hit another record.
While the reasons for these record sea surface temperatures can’t be determined for sure, the Met Office said that human-caused climate change is partly responsible. But other natural and man-made factors are likely to also play a part.
We have entered the hot phase of El Niño, which is a powerful weather system that heats up the Pacific Ocean and with it the earth’s temperatures. And it is likely that this will mean that 2024 will be another hot year.
The extreme and unprecedented temperatures show the power of the combination of human-induced warming and natural climate variability like El Niño.
Daniela Schmidt, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Bristol
However, it can’t fully explain the dramatically high temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean. One reason could be that the winds that blow dust from the Sahara Desert in the atmosphere are weaker than average.
Because the dust reflects back some of the sun’s energy, less dust means higher sea temperatures. We have also seen more easterly winds from the continental US, which could also be contributing to warming the Atlantic.
One more surprising reason could be the reduction of shipping pollution. New regulation that came into force in 2020 has caused the amount of aerosol particles released by ships to be reduced quite significantly.
While this is good news for the environment, it also means that there are fewer particles in the water to reflect the sun’s heat. This could have contributed to warmer water as well.
Danger To Wildlife And More Extreme Weather
Warmer waters can have a big impact on our marine life. Scientists warn that these high temperatures could cause mass mortality of plants and animals in the waters around the British shores.
I always thought they would never be ecologically impactful in the cool waters around UK and Ireland but this is unprecedented and possibly devastating. Current temperatures are way too high but not yet lethal for majority of species, although stressful for many … If it carries on through summer we could see mass mortality of kelp, seagrass, fish and oysters.
Dr Dan Smale, Marine Bilogical Association
The loss of biodiversity could be devastating and will contribute to climate change.
But warmer oceans will also increase the risk of more extreme weather. We have already seen record-high temperatures in Canada fuelling wildfires. In Asia, temperatures have also reached unprecedented highs.
During El Niño, hurricanes are less frequent. But the Met Office predicts that there will be more tropical storms because the North Atlantic basin is warmer.
However, there is some good news. While human-induced climate change is contributing to the hotting up of the Atlantic Ocean, it’s only one factor. Other natural occurring elements also play a part, some of which are only temporary, such as El Niño and the weaker winds.
This means we aren’t at the tipping point where temperatures will shoot up and stay elevated. It is more likely that temperatures will drop again, once some of the natural phenomena disappear.
That isn’t to say that human-made climate change isn’t making it worse. That’s why we have to reduce our carbon emissions as quickly as we can.
Otherwise, marine heatwaves will happen more often, which could be devastating for our environment.
