Latest news with #seatemperatures
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Portsmouth uni and GB Row Challenge research finds UK seas are warming
Data, collected by rowers who circumnavigated Great Britain and analysed by university researchers, has found that sea temperatures have risen.A report by the University of Portsmouth and GB Row Challenge found UK seas were, on average, 0.39C (32.7F) warmer in 2023 compared to data was collected by a crew who took part in the 2023 GB Row Challenge which saw participants travel more than 2000 miles (3219 km) around of environmental pollution at the University of Portsmouth, Fay Couceiro, said: "We expect fluctuations but we don't want to see this increasing number of marine heatwaves." Some regions, including the Celtic and Irish Seas and the northern North Sea, experienced temperature increases exceeding 2C (35.6F), during a marine said the data gives an important indication of the health of our oceans."Understanding it allows us to better protect the species that are there," she added that sessile organisms like mussels and oysters, which are unable to move themselves to cooler waters. were most affected by the rising temperatures. Environmental DNA, underwater sound and microplastic data was also collected by the the surprising findings was a fragment of Bakelite plastic found in Clacton-on-Sea north of the Thames was the first commercially produced synthetic plastic, which was widely used in the early 1900s and largely discontinued in the 1940s."Despite being phased out of production decades ago, this possible century-old relic has persisted, highlighting how plastics can linger in ecosystems for generations," Ms Couceiro said."This longevity contributes to the accumulation of microplastics, which infiltrate our soils, waterways, and even the food chain, posing risks to both environmental and human health. The finding serves as a reminder of the urgent need for sustainable materials and robust waste management practices to address the escalating global plastic crisis." 'Citizen science' Team Ithaca, an all-female rowing crew, were responsible for gathering the group also went on to become the fastest female team to row around Great Row Challenge founder, William de Laszlo said: "Team Ithaca's expedition highlights the potential of citizen science in contributing to environmental research."Their dedication and resilience have not only set a new benchmark in ocean rowing but have also provided critical insights into the challenges facing Britain's coastal waters." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Unprecedented' marine heatwave hits waters around Devon, Cornwall and Ireland
The sea off the coast of the UK and Ireland is experiencing an unprecedented marine heatwave with temperatures increasing by as much as 4C above average for the spring in some areas. Marine biologists say the intensity and unprecedented nature of the rise in water temperatures off the coasts of Devon, Cornwall and the west coast of Ireland are very concerning. As human-induced climate breakdown continues to raise global temperatures, the frequency of marine heatwaves is increasing. 'This is unprecedented because it is happening so early in the year,' said Dr Manuela Truebano, from the school of biological and marine sciences at the University of Plymouth. 'To see these temperature rises around UK waters at this time of year is quite sobering. Each time it happens we use the word 'unprecedented', and I am very concerned at the increase in prevalence and intensity of these marine heatwave events.' Temperatures in the sea off the south coast of Devon, Cornwall and Ireland have risen by between 2C and 4C above average temperatures for this time of year. Dr Dan Smale, of the Marine Biological Association, said the usual springtime water temperatures would be 11C-12C, but the waters were now at absolute temperatures of 15C-16C. The UK is increasingly being hit by marine heatwaves, with sea temperatures in June 2023 reaching their highest levels since records began. At the time the warming was labelled as 'unheard of'. Truebano said the rise in sea temperatures so early in the spring was even more concerning. The marine heatwave began in March and has continued for almost two months. If the sea temperatures continue to rise into the summer months there are fears of mass die-offs of fish and other marine life. Marine biologists say the impacts of the spring marine heatwave could be profound, including changes in the reproductive patterns of plankton, which in turn could lead to reductions in fish numbers later in the year. Smale said: 'It is a concern that these warming events are happening more and more in the UK and Ireland. Traditionally UK waters have not been affected, but these events are starting to happen more frequently and the associated temperatures are increasing. 'If this continues through the summer we would expect to see widespread biological impacts. This is a significant warming event.' Related: Chris Packham calls sea bass labelling in UK supermarkets a 'dereliction of duty' The Met Office said the marine heatwave had lasted more than two months, from early March and continuing into May. 'It is significant due to its intensity and persistence,' it said. It said the increase in heat was the result of several overlapping factors including prolonged high-pressure systems which brought a dry, sunny spring and weak winds and waves, creating ideal conditions for warming. The sea began to warm from mid February – one month earlier than usual – and rose in temperature from a warmer baseline as the waters around the UK were already warmer than usual coming out of winter. Data shows marine heatwaves are increasing in frequency. A 2019 study found the number of heatwave days rose by more than 50% in the 30 years to 2016, compared with the period from 1925-54. Scientists said at the time the heat destroyed swaths of sea life 'like wildfires take out huge areas of forest'. Dr Jonathan Tinker, a marine climate scientist at the Met Office, said: 'With projections suggesting UK summer sea temperatures could rise by up to 2.5C by 2050, such events are likely to become more frequent, intense and longer-lasting. Marine heatwaves offer a glimpse into how changing ocean conditions could shape future weather conditions.'
Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
‘Extreme' marine heatwave recorded in waters off Irish coast
Sea temperatures off the western and southern coasts of Ireland are above normal and constitute a marine heatwave, climatologists have said. UK Met Office data placed the marine heatwave at the 'extreme' end of the spectrum, with sea surface temperatures up to 4 degrees above normal. 'Yes, it is a marine heatwave currently,' said Paul Moore, a climatologist at Met Éireann. 'This background warming is always there, but when atmospheric conditions are favourable, as they have been in our region during spring, this can enhance the warming in localised areas, leading to marine heatwaves.' READ MORE Data showing above average temperatures has been confirmed from a number of sources, including figures gathered by Europe's Copernicus earth-monitoring satellite, and the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network. This spring was dominated by high-pressure weather conditions, mostly just to the north of Ireland and Britain, said Mr Moore. This has resulted in above average sunshine, he said, and below average winds, generally coming from an easterly direction. 'This has led to the top layer of seas around us warming up at an increased rate, leading to the sea surface temperatures we are seeing now.' The last time Ireland had sea surface temperatures this high was in June 2023. 'This followed a very dry and sunny period during the second half of May and early June that year. Research has linked the marine heatwave then to the record warm June in both Ireland and the UK.' The reason the west and south coasts had been most affected, said Mr Moore, was because of the mostly easterly winds those areas experienced during May. These easterlies carry warmer air off the land, and this warms the sea faster. Marine heatwaves have had 'devastating consequences' in other parts of the world, said Moore, over the last few years. [ How a hotter world is affecting Ireland in five graphics Opens in new window ] 'They can potentially cause widespread bleaching of coral reefs, the proliferation of harmful algal blooms, the displacement of marine species, and the disruption of entire food chains.' Commenting on the data for Britain and Ireland, Dr Manuela Truebano, from the school of biological and marine sciences at the University of Plymouth, said: 'This is unprecedented because it is happening so early in the year.' The June 2023 marine heatwave caused shock at the time. Of added concern, she said, was the 'prevalence and intensity of these marine heatwave events'. Mr Moore said Ireland had been 'lucky' with the timing of recent marine heatwaves around its shores because they have occurred before August, which is normally the warmest time of the year for sea surface temperatures here. If the sea surface temperatures were to continue to be above normal into August, that would put our marine ecosystem under stress, he said. There are signs that the marine heatwave could end soon, he added. 'The weather pattern is due to change over the next few days, bringing back strong westerly winds, which should churn up the water, mixing colder deep water with the warmer surface water. 'This should ease the sea surface temperature increase, at least temporarily.' As climate change continues, the global average sea surface temperatures will continue to increase, and this is projected to increase at least up to 2100.
Times
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Times
UK weather: warm spring drives ‘prolonged marine heatwave'
A record-breaking marine heatwave has hit the seas around much of Britain's west coast and Ireland, leading to temperatures more normally seen in the middle of June. Sea surface temperatures are up to 4C warmer than usual for this time of year, reaching about 17C off the Irish coast, according to Zoe Jacobs at the National Oceanography Centre, which is tracking the heatwave. Experts met in Exeter on Thursday to discuss marine heatwaves, which until recently climate scientists had described as an issue confined to the Mediterranean. Britain is not a global hotspot for marine heatwaves but saw two significant instances in 2022 and 2023. The present episode is even warmer. Temperatures around the British coastline are between 1.5C and 2.5C warmer than average
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Wild swimmers rejoice! Sea temperatures around the UK and Ireland soar to 4°C above usual - following an 'extreme' marine heatwave
Wild swimmers have flocked to the seaside as waters around the UK and Ireland are gripped by an 'extreme' marine heatwave. With temperatures soaring up to 4°C (7.2°F) above usual, British sea temperatures are currently what would be expected for mid-June. Thanks to an exceptionally warm spring and calm winds, sea temperatures in April and the first half of May were the highest since records began 45 years ago. Waters have been particularly warm off the west coast of Ireland in a few pockets of Devon and Cornwall. The entirety of the west coast of the UK is now roughly 2.5°C (4.5°F) warmer than the average for the time of year while water near Scotland is between 2-3°C (3.6-5.4°F) warmer. A marine heatwave is defined as any period where the sea temperatures exceed the seasonal threshold - 11.3°C for May - for more than five days. At one point off the Yorkshire coast, near Tyne and Tees, temperatures hit 4.6°C (8.28°F) hotter than average, according to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. However, while wild swimmers will definitely enjoy the warmer waters, temperatures are lower than the season peak in late summer and might still feel quite chilly. The warmest temperatures have been felt off the west coast of Ireland and isolated patched around Cornwall and Devon Scientists from the Met Office found that the waters around the UK have been coming in and out of a mild heatwave since 2024, but temperatures surged during March as the heatwave spread. By May 19, temperatures hit an average of 12.69°C (54.84°F) which is well above the heatwave threshold of 11.3°C (52.34°F) for May. Typically, a marine heatwave only lasts around two weeks. However, the UK's waters have now been experiencing a heatwave since early March, making it one of the longest heatwaves on record for this time of the year. Dr Ségolène Berthou, a Met Office climate scientist, wrote in a blog post: 'The heatwave is the result of several overlapping factors. 'Prolonged high-pressure systems brought a dry, sunny spring and weak winds and waves, creating ideal conditions for warming.' This meant that UK waters started getting warmer in February, a month earlier than in a typical year. Dr Berthou also points out the sea temperature spike has been particularly sharp due to a layer of warm water forming over the surface. She says: 'It can be compared to a layer of olive oil floating on water, this thin surface layer allows heat from solar radiation to accumulate near the surface. 'When this layer forms, surface temperatures can increase fast: the last 9 days have seen a sudden additional 1°C warming.' It isn't yet clear what kind of effects this will have on marine wildlife, but the impact on fish populations is being closely monitored. A spokesperson for the National Oceanographic Centre told MailOnline: 'The important thing to note is that as the current marine heatwave is occurring before the height of summer, it is unlikely to reach temperatures that would cause major harm or mortality to marine species.' However, it might disrupt the breeding season of certain species and could lead to a bloom in jellyfish which thrive in warmer waters and change the distribution of some species. In 2023, after a marine heatwave pushed temperatures 3°C (5.4°F) above average jellyfish sightings rose by 32 per cent. Professor Tim Smyth, from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, told MailOnline: 'During the current marine heatwave, we are seeing the distribution of where phytoplankton are in the water column more closely resembling summer than spring and this has implications for other parts of the food chain. 'We are also seeing increased incidence of species such as tuna and octopus – the latter have been reported to be taking from crab pots, in turn affecting the shellfish industry. 'Longer term, due to ocean warming, the distribution of species is expected to change, and this will have implications for the species we see in UK waters - and on our dinner tables!' Cooler weather is expected this coming weekend alongside stronger westerly wind which might break up the warm 'olive oil' layer at the surface and allow cooler water to mix in. That might mean gradually reducing surface temperatures and an end to the heatwave in the coming weeks. However, scientists warn that climate change is making events like this more likely. Over the past 40 years, the Met Office has found that the UK's waters are getting 0.3°C warmer on average every decade. Dr Jonathan Tinker, marine climate scientist at the Met Office, says: 'With projections suggesting UK summer sea temperatures could rise by up to 2.5°C by 2050, such events are likely to become more frequent, intense and longer-lasting. 'Marine heatwaves offer a glimpse into how changing ocean conditions could shape future weather conditions.' SEA LEVELS COULD RISE BY UP TO 4 FEET BY THE YEAR 2300 Global sea levels could rise as much as 1.2 metres (4 feet) by 2300 even if we meet the 2015 Paris climate goals, scientists have warned. The long-term change will be driven by a thaw of ice from Greenland to Antarctica that is set to re-draw global coastlines. Sea level rise threatens cities from Shanghai to London, to low-lying swathes of Florida or Bangladesh, and to entire nations such as the Maldives. It is vital that we curb emissions as soon as possible to avoid an even greater rise, a German-led team of researchers said in a new report. By 2300, the report projected that sea levels would gain by 0.7-1.2 metres, even if almost 200 nations fully meet goals under the 2015 Paris Agreement. Targets set by the accords include cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero in the second half of this century. Ocean levels will rise inexorably because heat-trapping industrial gases already emitted will linger in the atmosphere, melting more ice, it said. In addition, water naturally expands as it warms above four degrees Celsius (39.2°F). Every five years of delay beyond 2020 in peaking global emissions would mean an extra 8 inches (20 centimetres) of sea level rise by 2300. 'Sea level is often communicated as a really slow process that you can't do much about ... but the next 30 years really matter,' said lead author Dr Matthias Mengel, of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, in Potsdam, Germany.
