Beyond Their Capacity: Oceans Struggle to Absorb Human-Caused Climate Change

Oceans play a crucial role in offsetting climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and excess heat, but new data suggests they are struggling under this burden. A recent study in the journal Nature Climate Change confirmed that human-caused climate change is driving significant increases in the sea surface temperature’s seasonal cycle amplitude. This means that humans are pushing oceans beyond their capacity to mitigate the effects of climate change. Professor Mike Meredith from the British Antarctic Survey emphasized the concerning implications of oceans rapidly warming beyond expectations, leading to severe consequences.

Climate change is expected to worsen tropical storms, wildfires, rising sea levels, and create shortages of essential products like food and microchips. The need for action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is evident as a recent report from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Service revealed that global heating has caused oceans to break temperature records every day over the past year. Rising ocean heat content not only contributes to destabilizing ice shelves but also amplifies the intensity of hurricanes and tropical cyclones. Dr. Michael E. Mann, a professor of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania, explained that the warming of the oceans exacerbates these extreme weather events.

The overall picture is one of urgency and the need for decisive action to protect the environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The urgent need for action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is evident as a recent report from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Service revealed that global heating has caused oceans to break temperature records every day over the past year. New data suggests that oceans are struggling under this burden as they play a crucial role in offsetting climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and excess heat, but human-caused climate change is driving significant increases in the sea surface temperature’s seasonal cycle amplitude, pushing oceans beyond their capacity to mitigate the effects of climate change.