ORLANDO, Fla. – This week’s Forecasting Change is about our record-heat and how it’s impacting our oceans.
This summer’s unrelenting and historically high temperatures haven’t spared the oceans. Over the past four months, global sea surface temperatures have consistently surpassed any recorded levels for the April-July period, and the margin is substantial.
Traditionally, sea surface temperatures tend to decrease from April to July as summer concludes in the Southern Hemisphere, which boasts a vast oceanic expanse. However, this year has defied the norm. Rather than declining since April, temperatures have bucked the trend, steadily rising and setting a completely unprecedented course toward an extraordinary July.
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The heat of July 2023 outpaced any other month’s temperatures since 1850, closely followed by June 2023.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a staggering 48% of the Earth’s oceans are presently undergoing marine heat waves. This coverage marks the most extensive marine heat wave phenomenon for any month since 1991. Even more striking, these conditions are anticipated to persist.
This remarkable surge in oceanic warmth primarily stems from the influence of human-induced carbon pollution, coupled with the onset of El Niño conditions in June.
In the last two weeks, we have done stories on the bleaching of our coral reefs. The reefs are vital, but do not forget that the warmer oceans also make for more hurricanes.
This week alone was also a record-setting week for development of tropical systems at once.
Now, we are watching the Gulf for the possibility of more action, this time closer to home.
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