A significant spike in ocean temperatures observed between 2023 and 2024, while extraordinary, is not necessarily a sign that climate change is accelerating, according to new research published Wednesday. The study found that the extreme rise in ocean heat was largely in line with expectations from global warming, though it highlighted the profound impact of human-driven climate change on the planet’s oceans.
The surge in sea surface temperatures was 0.25°C higher than the previous record, marking a considerable jump in the context of climate variability. Researchers, including Jens Terhaar from the University of Bern in Switzerland, explained that such a sharp increase would have been “practically impossible” without the influence of climate change.
However, the event is not seen as a sign of an unexpected acceleration in global warming but rather as a rare but plausible occurrence within current warming trends.
While these extreme ocean temperatures are concerning due to their links to marine heatwaves, coral bleaching, and intensified storms, the scientists explained that this jump is consistent with climate models and does not signal a fundamental shift in the rate of global warming. The study concludes that as emissions continue, such events will likely become more frequent.
