Annual Study on Ocean Heating “Ocean Heat Content”
According to a study, coastal communities should be alert as ocean warming is at record levels in the year 2021.
According to the recent annual study on ocean warming “Ocean Heat Content”:
The world’s oceans underwent record warming in 2021, according to a new report. The upper 2,000 metres of the ocean absorbed 235 zettajoules (ZJ) of heat in 2021 relative to the 1981-2010 average, according to the analysis published in the Advances in Atmospheric Sciences journal.
Ocean Warming:
- Most of the warming in the oceans is due to the absorption of greenhouse gases. This causes an increase in sea temperature.
- Ocean warming is a better indicator of climate crisis than air temperature. This is because natural cycles such as El-Nino and La-Nina play a relatively limited role in ocean warming.
- Oceans generate heat during El -Nino. This leads to an increase in global warming. The oceans receive heat during La- Nina.
- This heat gets stored in the depths of the ocean from the surface.
Effects of ocean warming
- Rapid melting of ice and rising water temperatures will lead to sea level rise.
- There will be more destructive storms and cyclones. Rainfall will also increase and the risk of floods will also remain.
- Sea water will be divided into levels according to different water densities.
- The organisms living in the ocean will be greatly affected, as there will be very little oxygen reaching the depths.
What can be done to reduce ocean warming?
- Rising ocean temperatures should be included in climate risk assessment, adaptation and mitigation processes. Net-zero carbon emissions should be achieved as soon as possible.
- The mitigation goals set by the Paris Agreement need to be achieved. Marine protected areas should be established and adaptive measures should be taken.
Source – The Hindu
