It is not today that scientists and environmental entities have warned about the Earth's high temperatures. In the last month, a new phenomenon caught the attention of scientists and lit a red alert: the surface temperature of the oceans reached alarming levels.
According to the website Climatempo, these were the highest temperatures ever observed on the surface of the oceans since 1981. There was uninterrupted heating for 42 days straight.
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The phenomenon is anticipating the formation of the El Niño, scheduled for the second half of the year. It alone is already raising temperatures across the planet. Therefore, scientists are concerned about what the situation will be like when he actually shows up.
The high temperatures of the oceans, by themselves, are already worrying scientists. However, a deeper look – quite literally – left them with their hair standing on end longer.
Deeper waters – within 2 km of the surface – also showed warming. In 2022, thermometers rose in record temperature, never seen before.
That's a problem, because it can significantly alter the currents that distribute heat to other parts of the Earth. In addition, it can change the behavior and routine of the species that live there. Some may even die.
The oceans absorb about 90% of the greenhouse gases generated by humans from burning fossil fuels and deforestation. In this way, the overheating of marine waters is directly impacting this cycle.
A Chinese study, dated January 2023, came to this conclusion. Furthermore, scientists have pointed out that this is altering the salinity in different bodies of water from the North Pacific, through the Mediterranean Sea, and even into the southern oceans of the world.
These phenomena, for scientists, make it clear that the world is warming faster than the most pessimistic predictions indicated.
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.