Ocean heat sets a new sky high record
The results of the 2018 research study about the ocean heat has pushed the UN to express its concerns about the effects of global warming and how it affects marine life. In the latest overview of the State of the Climate, The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that the oceans heat levels have been its highest in the last four years. The figures that were previously announced were taken from the provisional drafts of the report that has been submitted by the agency. However, the final version of the report shows apparent concerns in the development of climate change. Several climate indicators have been tested and the study has also looked beyond the surface level temperatures. “In 2018, a new record has been set concerning the heat level of the ocean water in its first 700 meters,” WMO expressed in a statement. The agency also said that the report submitted to the UN contains records of the ocean temperature covering the upper 2,000 meters of water. However, they also said that the data collected only included those that date back to 2005. The previous report that sets the temperature data is dated 2017. Sadly, more than 90% of the world’s heat that is trapped around the Earth’s atmosphere accumulates in the oceans of the world. The greenhouse gases that come from the burning of fossil fuels to provide the much-needed electricity of mankind goes to the atmosphere and goes down directly to the ocean water. A study that was published in a US Science Journal that the warming of the ocean waters is only a result of the rising temperatures in the air. Some models of the study predicted that the first 2,000 meters of water will only get warmer by 0.8% degrees Celsius every year if the use of fossil fuels and the production of greenhouse gases do not stop. Sadly, across the planet, the warming of the ocean water does not happen evenly. The report submitted by the WMO said that the highest rates of ocean water warming has been recorded in the southernmost part of the planet where the warming of the water has reached to its deepest levels. “Delaying the action to fight back against climate change is no longer an option,” said Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General. He further added that “a realistic and concrete plan of action should be a priority of government all over the world.” |
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