OCEAN WARMING SET A NEW RECORD IN 2022
Over 90% of the heat generated in the atmosphere by our greenhouse gas emissions is absorbed by the ocean.
The warming of the climate is therefore above all a warming of the ocean.
An alarming phenomenon, with heavy consequences for marine ecosystems and human societies.
- THERMAL EXPANSION
Water expands as it warms and therefore takes up more space. Combined with the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, this phenomenon generates a rise in sea levels, estimated at 50-90cm by 2100.
- THE WORSENING OF THE INTENSITY AND FREQUENCY OF CERTAIN EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
A warmer ocean provides more “fuel” for cyclones and other tropical storms; extreme rainfall events are intensified etc.
- DEOXYGENATION
Warmer sea water dissolves less oxygen. Hypoxic, some of these “dead zones” become unbreathable for some organisms (fish, corals, bivalves) and favor others (jellyfish, algae, etc.).
©TheOceanAgency – Bleaching
©OceanImageBank – ThomasHorig