Global Sea Temperatures Hit Record High in 2024: EcoWatch Report
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, it has been revealed that global sea temperatures have reached an unprecedented peak in 2024. A team of 54 researchers from seven different countries meticulously collected ocean data from the surface all the way down to 2,000 meters below, a depth known as ocean heat content.
The researchers, led by professor Lijing Cheng from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered that all major indicators they examined had shattered previous records. This included global sea surface temperature, average global sea surface temperature, and the temperature of water up to 2,000 meters below the surface.
In the span of just one year, from 2023 to 2024, the team observed a staggering increase in ocean heat content of the upper 2,000 meters by 16 zettajoules. To put this into perspective, this surge is equivalent to 140 times the total energy production of the entire world in 2023.
According to Kevin Trenberth, a co-author of the study from the University of Auckland, it is highly unusual for all three metrics to simultaneously break records in a single year. He pointed out that historically, the most significant temperature spikes have occurred following an El Niño event, the most recent one being in 2016.
2024 experienced the lingering effects of an El Niño event, which contributed to the elevated sea temperatures. However, Cheng emphasized that while El Niño plays a substantial role in surface temperatures, it has a minimal impact on ocean heat content, which also hit record highs last year.
Ocean temperatures are a crucial barometer of human-induced climate change, as approximately 90% of the Earth’s excess heat resulting from global warming is absorbed by the oceans.
### Impact of Ocean Warming on Climate Change
John Abraham, another co-author of the study from the University of St. Thomas, explained the various instruments used to gather ocean data, including robotic sensors known as Argo floats, expendable bathythermographs, buoys with sensors, and even sensors attached to marine animals.
The team concluded that the significant increase in ocean heat content led to a 1.0 millimeter rise in sea levels in 2024, with a total increase of 54 millimeters since 1960. This rise in sea levels poses risks to coastal infrastructure and habitats, making them vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, coastal erosion, and flooding in low-lying areas.
Additionally, warming oceans are often linked to more frequent and intense storms, especially hurricanes, as warmer waters provide more energy for these weather systems.
Lijing Cheng stressed the importance of continued efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, even if global targets like the Paris Agreement are met. The team remains committed to monitoring ocean warming trends in the years to come, emphasizing the necessity of global collaboration and data sharing in understanding and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.