You read that right: extreme marine heatwaves are three times more frequent today than they were in the 1940s, according to a bombshell study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The science just dropped a major truth bomb: global warming is turbocharging our oceans‘ temperatures, with dire consequences for marine life – and us.
Here’s the breakdown: Back in the ’40s, oceans endured about 15 days of extreme heat yearly. Fast-forward to today, and that number has skyrocketed to 50 days annually. Researchers from institutions like the University of Reading blame climate change for nearly half of these scorching episodes.
"Marine heatwaves are like underwater wildfires," said study co-author Xiangbo Feng. "They wipe out coral reefs, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows – ecosystems millions depend on."
But wait, it gets worse: These heatwaves don’t just hurt sea creatures. They’re also supercharging tropical storms by destabilizing the atmosphere. Think of it as the planet’s broken thermostat wreaking havoc everywhere.
Bottom line? The oceans are sounding the alarm – and it’s time to listen.
Reference(s):
Extreme marine heat waves tripled over past 80 years, study finds
cgtn.com