The Ocean’s Surface Is Heating Up Over Four Times Faster Than in the 1980s

The sharp rise in global temperatures since 2023 has fueled relentless disasters worldwide, from the still-burning LA fires to the deadly Valencia floods, leaving scientists scrambling for answers.

New ocean data suggests a key culprit: an alarming acceleration in sea surface warming. A study from the University of Reading reveals that the ocean’s surface is now heating more than four times faster than in the late 1980s.

While El Niño and rising CO2 levels were expected contributors, additional factors may be amplifying the trend. Scientists point to increased heat-trapping water vapor from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption, fewer cooling aerosols due to 2020 shipping regulations, and peak solar activity. Yet, even combined, these factors fail to fully explain the surge in temperatures.

Ocean Warming Accelerates: Sea Surface Temperatures Rising 4.5x Faster Than in the 1980s

To investigate further, meteorologist Chris Merchant and his team analyzed satellite records dating back to 1985. They found that in the 1980s, sea surface temperatures rose at about 0.06°C per decade. Today, that rate has jumped to 0.27°C per decade—and it’s accelerating. Although El Niño played a role, the study estimates that nearly half of the excess heat stems from the ocean absorbing energy far faster than expected over the past decade.

“If the ocean were a bathtub, in the 1980s the hot tap was running slowly, warming the water just a fraction of a degree each decade,” explains Merchant. “Now, the tap is running much faster, and the warming has picked up speed.”

If this trend continues, the next 20 years will bring more sea surface warming than the last 40 combined. Scientists warn this accelerating energy imbalance could devastate marine ecosystems, worsen food insecurity, and intensify health crises.

Policymakers must recognize that past warming trends underestimate the pace of future change, underscoring the urgent need for deep cuts in fossil fuel use. Scientists have long outlined solutions, yet fossil fuel subsidies continue to drive the crisis. Every action to curb emissions now will save lives, no matter where we stand on this dangerous trajectory.

Read Original Article: Science Alert

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