SUMMARY
- Global sea surface temperatures reach a record 20.98 degrees Celsius on August 4th, part of a worrisome trend.
- Experts attribute the rise to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, calling for urgent action to limit future warming.
- The record-breaking heat poses immediate threats to marine life, with potential wide-ranging implications for our planet's health.
The world's oceans are simmering at their all-time highest temperatures, recent data from the European Union's climate watchdog has revealed. Climate experts are sounding the alarm, warning that these rising temperatures could have far-reaching and immediate consequences for our planet.
On August 4th, the average daily global sea surface temperature tipped the scale at a toasty 20.98 degrees Celsius (69.76 Fahrenheit), the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service reports. This is notably warmer than what's typical for this time of year, and it's part of a concerning trend of ocean temperatures rising above average in early August.
The alarming rise didn't stop there. As of late July, the average temperature had hit 20.96 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record set in 2016. Over the first few days of August, it continued to creep closer to 21 degrees, a trend that is not showing any signs of slowing down.
Interestingly, ocean temperatures usually peak in March, not August. This deviation from the norm is causing worry among climate scientists, with many recognizing the human influence on this alarming development. Professor Rowan Sutton stated that the burning of fossil fuels is undeniably contributing to this record-shattering event.
The oceans play a crucial role in our planet's well-being, providing half of our oxygen and absorbing a quarter of our CO2 emissions. With this heat record and others, scientists are cautioning about the potential repercussions for marine life and warning that if not addressed, these issues could worsen. These rising temperatures are considered an immediate threat to marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, and experts expect to see more impact surfacing soon.
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