Record-Breaking Ocean Heat Linked to Global Warming Raises Concerns

INIndia|

A new study has revealed that global sea surface temperatures surged to unprecedented levels from April 2023 to March 2024, exceeding previous records by nearly 0.25°C. This phenomenon, described as a one-in-512-year event, was largely attributed to human-induced climate change, according to researchers from the University of Bern, Switzerland.

The intensive ocean heating caused intense marine heatwaves, leading to significant ecological impacts, including mass die-offs of marine life and accelerated coral bleaching. The study emphasized that prolonged ocean heat disrupts regional climate patterns, especially affecting monsoon winds and precipitation in India, which in turn threatens water and food security.

Researchers utilized observation-based statistical models to analyze the temperature spike and concluded that such drastic increases would have been virtually impossible without the ongoing effects of global warming. Current climate models, while able to predict these extreme events, suggest that temperatures should revert to long-term warming trends by September 2025. Despite the ocean heat remaining higher than pre-spike levels, it is no longer deemed record-breaking, offering some reassurance that climate models are still effective, officials stated.

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