One of the challenges that the fight against global warming has put on the world stage is the increase in temperatures in ocean currents, which currently affects the strengthening of phenomena such as El Niño and the arrival of strong heat waves in countries such as Colombia, which have faced threats of rationing.
According to experts, this is because the planet’s oceans have been experiencing accelerated warming in recent years, breaking temperature records month after month. While there are those who deny that this is happening, the reality is increasingly irrefutable, especially in matters such as the deterioration of the ozone layer.
Global warming.
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The weakening of the ozone layer and global warming are two interconnected environmental crises. While the hole in the layer that protects the Earth has begun to be repaired thanks to international protocols that restrict the substances that damage it, its effects persist and today allow a greater amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, altering weather patterns.
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A respite from the heat
Although the news in recent years has not been the best and the challenge of caring for the planet remains current, a recent study by the Climate Reanalyzer, led by the University of Maine, and data from NOAA suggest a possible pause in this trend.
According to the experts at these centers, by mid-March 2023, The average ocean surface temperature reached an unprecedented level, even surpassing the records of 2016. This situation generated great alarm in the scientific community and in public opinion, since the warming of the oceans has profound implications for the global climate and marine ecosystems.
Insurers are increasingly facing challenges from global warming.
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However, on July 2, 2024, an unprecedented event occurred in more than a year: for the first time in that period, no new daily ocean surface temperature record was set. This data could indicate that July 2024 would be the first month in more than a year without a new monthly record, suggesting a possible temporary stabilization in ocean warming.
“The North Atlantic has been a focus of particular attention, as its temperatures have also been above historical averages. However, unlike the rest of the globe, consecutive records in this region stopped in April 2023,” they explained.
It is worth remembering that the importance of the North Atlantic lies in its influence on the probability of intense hurricane seasons on the east coast of North America and the Caribbean.
While this apparent pause in rising ocean temperatures While this is positive news, it is important to note that current temperatures are still significantly above historical averages. For example, in mid-July 2024, the temperature was almost half a degree above the 1982-2011 average, even allowing for two standard deviations.
Rising sea levels are caused by global warming.
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Several factors have contributed to the significant increase in ocean temperatures in recent years. The El Niño phenomenon, climate change, the eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano and changes in legislation on sulphur emissions from maritime transport. These are some of the elements that have influenced this warming, according to the most recent reports.
