The report highlights that 94% of the world’s oceans experienced a marine heatwave in 2023.
New classifications like "super-marine heatwaves" are being used to describe the extreme warming events.
Last year's record-low cloud cover allowed more solar heat to reach Earth’s surface.
Key quote:
“Sometimes people classify marine heatwaves from category one to category four, but a super-marine heatwave is above all that.”
— Xungang Yin, NOAA climate researcher
Why this matters:
These unprecedented marine heatwaves and reduced cloud cover could signify a rapid shift in global climate patterns. The resulting impacts on marine ecosystems and weather could have serious, long-term consequences.
As a blistering marine heat wave persists, a full-blown emergency is unfolding along the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States.
A record-hot June, followed by a disaster-packed July has climate scientists “shocked” by just how extreme the extreme weather has been, including some ocean waters feeling like “a hot tub.”
The data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found that the average ocean temperature has been around 21.1C since the beginning of April 2023. This exceeds the highest average temperature that was 21C in 2016. Experts warn that this will lead to an increase in marine heatwaves around the world.
