On Thursday, the United Nations said, ocean heat has hit a record high in 2018, raising crucial new concerns about the danger global warming is posing to marine life.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed in its latest State of the Climate overview that the last four years had been the hottest on record - figures previously announced in provisional drafts of the flagship report.
However, the final version of the report highlighted disturbing developments in other climate indicators beyond surface temperature, as 2018 saw new records for ocean heat content in the upper 700 meters.
About 93% of excess heat accumulates in the oceans, trapped around the Earth by greenhouse gases that comes from the burning of fossil fuels. Research published earlier this year showed that warming in the oceans is on top with measurements of rising air temperatures.
Some models predict the temperature of the top 2,000 meters of world’s oceans will rise nearly 0.8˚C by the end of the century if nothing is done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to WMO report, the highest rates of ocean warming are occurring in the southern ocean, where warming has also reached the deepest layers. This could result in sea levels being substantially different in different places.
The thermal expansion, water swelling as it warms is expected to raise sea levels to 12 inches, above any sea level rise from melting glaciers and ice sheets, according to the research published in Science.
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