Ocean warming accelerated fourfold in 40 years, intensifying climate crisis

New research revealed that ocean temperatures have been rising at an alarming rate, with the pace of warming quadrupling over the past four decades.

This rapid increase is contributing to intensified climate change, affecting sea levels, extreme weather patterns, and food security worldwide. Scientists warn that without urgent reductions in fossil fuel emissions, the situation will deteriorate even further.

A study published in Environmental Research Letters highlights a significant rise in ocean surface temperatures. In the 1980s, oceans were warming at a rate of 0.06 degrees Celsius per decade, but that figure has now surged to 0.27 degrees Celsius per decade. Projections suggest that this acceleration will continue, potentially worsening over the next two decades if greenhouse gas emissions remain unchecked.

Experts attribute the rapid ocean warming to Earth’s growing energy imbalance - where the planet absorbs more heat than it can release. Greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide and methane, are trapping heat in the atmosphere, driving up ocean temperatures.

Christopher Merchant, a professor at the University of Reading and lead author of the study, stated that the findings indicate climate change is progressing faster than previously estimated.

The escalating ocean temperatures are fueling rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and disrupting agricultural production.

A decline in cloud cover and melting ice are further contributing to heat absorption, exacerbating the crisis. Scientists warn that unless fossil fuel consumption is significantly reduced, the world will face increasingly severe climate impacts in the years ahead.