Scientists sound alarm over dramatic ocean warming

The dizzying increase in ocean temperatures is alarming scientists, who are calling for more research into the changes taking place and fearing devastating effects on the climate as a whole. “Changes are happening so quickly that we are not able to track the impact”recognizes Vidar Helgesen, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of Unesco, for whom “addressing ocean warming is urgent”.

“A much greater effort of real-time observation and research is needed”he told AFP during the Ocean Decade conference which ends on Friday April 12 in Barcelona and brought together 1,500 scientists, representatives of states and organizations.

The temperature of the oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth and play a key role in regulating the global climate, reached a new absolute record in March, with an average of 21.07°C measured on the surface, excluding areas near the poles. , according to the European Copernicus Observatory. This overheating, which has been getting worse month after month for a year, threatens marine life and leads to greater humidity in the atmosphere, synonymous with more unstable weather conditions, such as violent winds and torrential rains.