The European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK’s Met Office have revealed that some of the most intense marine heat increases on Earth are occurring in the seas around the UK and Ireland. Water temperatures in these areas are currently 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above the average for this time of year. The warmest areas are found off the UK’s east coast, spanning from Durham to Aberdeen, as well as off the northwest coast of Ireland. While human-caused climate change is a contributing factor, there are other natural and man-made influences that are also driving the rising temperatures.
The data from ESA indicates that seawater around the entire coastline of the British Isles is experiencing above-average warmth. This significant increase in heat poses a threat to marine life, with the potential to cause mass deaths among fish and other species. Additionally, marine heatwaves, which are prolonged periods of high sea surface temperatures, can lead to more extreme weather events as storm systems gather increased energy and can become more intense and persistent.
The warming of the UK’s seas coincides with a global trend of rising air and ocean surface temperatures. In fact, global sea surface temperatures in April and May of this year reached the highest levels ever recorded in data going back to 1850, according to the Met Office. May’s average ocean temperature was 0.85 degrees Celsius higher than the normal for that month, as reported by the US National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These escalating ocean temperatures are part of a broader pattern of climate change impacting the planet.