
Rapid Ocean Warming Triggers 240% Surge in Marine Heatwaves and Threatening Global Fisheries
The world has witnessed an unprecedented surge in marine heatwaves (MHWs) over the past two years, with a staggering 240% increase in the number of MHW days during the summers of 2023-2024 compared to historical records. A recent study published in Nature Climate Change warns that nearly 10% of the world's oceans have recorded the highest sea surface temperatures (SSTs) ever observed four times higher than the historical annual average.
The primary driver behind this alarming trend is human-induced climate change, which has been further amplified by El Niño a natural climate phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean known for warming sea surface temperatures and record-low global cloud cover.
Escalating Ocean Heatwaves and Their Devastating Consequences
Marine heatwaves occur when ocean tem...