A widespread heat wave has ocean temperatures soaring to record levels
The planet's average sea surface temperature spiked to a record high in April, and the ocean has remained exceptionally warm ever since. In July, widespread marine heat waves drove temperatures back up to near-record highs, with some hot spots nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (nearly 38 Celsius).
«I find it kind of astonishing,» said Gregory Johnson, an oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, referring to this year's trend. «This is a pretty big step up.» The North Atlantic has seen some of the most exceptional warmth, with recent temperatures consistently reaching more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 Celsius) higher than what is typical for this time of year.
Taking a dip in the waters off the coast of the Florida Keys could, at times, feel like stepping into a hot tub. Last week, one reading from a buoy recorded a stunning 101.1 degrees Fahrenheit (just over 38 Celsius), possibly a world record for sea surface temperatures.
The extreme heat is devastating Florida's coral reefs, but high ocean temperatures can have more widespread impacts, too, disrupting other marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. El Nino, a recurring global climate pattern that is typically linked to warmer conditions in many regions, arrived in June, and is one contributor to the spike in global sea surface temperatures, said Michelle L'Heureux, a climate scientist with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
But the underlying influence of human-driven climate change is undeniable, she added. Global sea surface temperatures have been increasing since at least the early 20th century, when humans began sharply increasing the amount of greenhouse gases pumped into the atmosphere.Is It Worse Than Scientists
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