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Now SHARKS could get even angrier in warmer seas as world’s oceans hit hottest EVER

admin — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 06:29:36 +0000

Now SHARKS could get even angrier in warmer seas as world’s oceans hit hottest EVER recorded temperature of 20.96C after climate change heats up the planet’s waters, scientists warn

By Colin Fernandez Environment Correspondent and Jack Wright

Updated: 21:03 EDT, 4 August 2023

Now sharks could become even angrier after the world’s oceans have hit their highest recorded surface temperature, according to scientists.

Copernicus, the EU’s weather service, revealed yesterday that the sea surface temperatures reached an average of 20.96C – beating the previous highest logged in 2016 of 20.95C.

Warmer seas spell trouble for fish and coral and could lead to a rise in sea levels. As oceans warm, fish such as cod may have to move further north to reach the cooler seas they prefer.

And predators such as sharks could become aggressive because they get confused in hotter conditions. The University of Southampton’s Dr Simon Boxall told the Telegraph: ‘Sharks getting grumpy wouldn’t surprise me at all. Fish are pretty jumpy about temperature.’

A spokesman for Copernicus said yesterday: ‘The record is broken. The oceans are the hottest recorded.’

Now sharks could become even angrier after the world’s oceans have hit their highest recorded surface temperature, according to scientists

Average sea temperatures have been climbing steadily since records started back in the late 1970s, the data shows. Here, daily global sea surface temperature (°C) are plotted as a time series for each year from January 1, 1979 to July 23, 2023. The years 2023 and 2016 are shown with thick lines shaded in bright red and dark red, respectively. Other years are shown with thin lines and shaded according to the decade, from blue (1970s) to brick red (2020s)

WMO says July is sure to be the hottest month ‘by a significant margin’. Pictured are the 30 warmest months on record globally

Samantha Burgess, from the climate monitoring service, says March should be when the oceans are the warmest globally, not August. She told the BBC: ‘The fact we’ve seen the record now makes me nervous about how much warmer the ocean might get between now and next March’.

The record temperatures are partly driven by the El Nino weather phenomenon – the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean – with 2016 also being an El Nino year.

But global warming is likely to be pushing up temperatures, she said. ‘The more we burn fossil fuels, the more excess heat will be taken out by the oceans, which means the longer it will take to stabilise them and get them back to where they were,’ Dr Burgess added.

Dr Katie Longo, from the Marine Stewardship Council, said: ‘It could mean fish such as cod drop in numbers. Cod feed on tiny shrimp-like creatures called copepods, and the changing temperature can mean the copepods breed at the wrong time for the cod larvae to feed on’.

Dr Kathryn Lesneski, who is monitoring a marine heatwave in the Gulf of Mexico for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told the BBC: ‘The water feels like a bath when you jump in.

Air surface temperatures are usually the main metric looked at when considering temperature rises, but ocean temperatures are key indicators too (file photo)

‘Right now there is widespread coral bleaching at shallow reefs in Florida and many corals have already died.’

Scientists are investigating the reasons behind why the oceans are so hot but say that climate change is making the seas much warmer as they absorb most of the heating from greenhouse gas emissions.

The broken temperature record follows a series of marine heatwaves this year including in the UK, the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Professor Rowan Sutton, from the University of Reading and National Centre for Atmospheric Science, said: ‘The ocean warming is concerning.

‘The latest sea surface temperature data from Copernicus suggests we may be experiencing not just a record-breaking extreme event but a record-shattering one.

‘And this is not simply for a local measure of temperature, but for a global one, which will have much greater impacts.

‘Whilst there are certainly short-term factors, the major long-term cause is without any doubt the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels.

‘This is yet another alarm bell that screams out for the most urgent actions to limit future warming and to adapt to the serious changes that are unfolding before our eyes.’

Inside world’s hottest new hotel: Photos show Tripadvisor No1 in the Maldives is a

admin — Sun, 28 May 2023 18:06:13 +0000

One of the world’s hottest holiday destinations is now positively sizzling with temptation – thanks to a sensational new hotel.

As we recently reported, adults-only Oblu Select Lobigili in the Maldives was crowned No. 1 in the ‘Hottest New Hotels’ category in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, which analysed reviews of 1.5million properties.

Tripadvisor says that the 68-villa resort has a ‘secluded, castaway feel’ and these eye-catching pictures certainly show that it’s just the ticket for a paradisiacal Robinson Crusoe-style getaway.

Wanderlust-inducing images reveal dreamy villas over turquoise waters, large elegant rooms with panoramic views, private pools facing directly onto the ocean, pristine sandy white beaches, and hammocks swinging under the shade of palm trees.

If that’s not enough, the five-star resort tempts guests with romantic scenarios that include floating breakfasts, private beachside movie nights with Champagne and dinners at the archipelago’s largest underwater ocean restaurant.

Oblu Select Lobigili in the Maldives was crowned No. 1 in the ‘Hottest New Hotels’ category in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, which analysed reviews of 1.5million properties

Tripadvisor says that the 68-villa resort has a ‘secluded, castaway feel’ and these eye-catching pictures certainly show us why

The five-star resort tempts guests with romantic scenarios that include dinners at the country’s largest underwater ocean restaurant

Further scenarios include floating breakfasts and private beachside movie nights with Champagne

Features and facilities also include a cocktail bar with live band performances, a spa, a gym, and unique food-truck dining – ‘a feel-good under-the-sky, casual experience located beachside’.

In the Maldivian language of Dhivehi, ‘lobi’ means love and ‘gili’ means island – and so far, guests have been falling in love with this ‘love island’.

Since it opened on March 24, 2022, it has garnered nearly 1,000 five-star reviews, with guests describing it as ‘absolutely spectacular’ and ‘the best holiday ever’.

‘From the minute we set foot on the beautiful “love island” we received the “royal treatment”. We felt ever so welcome and cared for by the amazing staff with friendly smiles all around,’ one reviewer commented.

The resort benefits from pristine sandy white beaches where hammocks swing under the shade of palm trees

Water treat: Guests can also relax by pools that directly face the ocean

Features and facilities include a cocktail bar with live band performances, a spa, a gym, and unique food-truck dining – ‘a feel-good under-the-sky, casual experience located beachside’

In the Maldivian language of Dhivehi, ‘lobi’ means love and ‘gili’ means island

So far, guests have been falling in love with this ‘love island’

Since it opened on March 24, 2022, the hotel has garnered nearly 1,000 five-star reviews

Another said: ‘Unbelievable. Just simply unbelievable. Accommodation and resort are like a postcard.’

The island resort, by hospitality company Atmosphere Core, is just a 15-minute complimentary speedboat ride away from Male International Airport.

Room prices in 2023 start from around £600 and go up to around £1,200 for a top villa.

Wanderlust-inducing images reveal dreamy villas over turquoise waters, and large elegant rooms with panoramic views

Guests describe it as ‘absolutely spectacular’ and ‘the best holiday ever’

One Tripadvisor user said: ‘Unbelievable. Just simply unbelievable. Accommodation and resort are like a postcard’

The island resort is just a 15-minute complimentary speedboat ride away from Male International Airport

There’s a 98% chance one of the next five years will be the hottest on RECORD, scientists

admin — Wed, 17 May 2023 10:11:10 +0000

Millions across the world are being warned to brace themselves, as a damning new report claims the hottest year on record will take place by 2027.

Experts stressed with 98 per cent certainty that a global temperature spike will take place in the next five years.

The bleak news comes amid worsening climate change fears and follows a summer of hell in Europe, which faced its second hottest year recorded in 2022.

Future extremes also have a two-in-three chance of exceeding 2.7°F (1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels – breaking promises of the climate-focused Paris Agreement.

‘Today’s report shows that the next five years are expected to bring new temperature records,’ said Dr Leon Hermanson, a Met Office scientist behind the report.

Some areas of the globe will likely experience a rise in rainfall during the next five years, while others will see rainfall plummet. Pictured: Wimbledon Common last summer

WHAT IS THE PARIS AGREEMENT?

The Paris Agreement, which was first signed in 2015, is an international agreement to control and limit climate change.

It hopes to hold the increase in the global average temperature to below 2°C (3.6ºF) ‘and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C (2.7°F)’.

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change has four main goals with regards to reducing emissions:

1) A long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels

2) To aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change

3) Governments agreed on the need for global emissions to peak as soon as possible, recognising that this will take longer for developing countries

4) To undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with the best available science

Source: European Commission

‘These new highs will be fuelled almost completely by the rise of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, but the anticipated development of the naturally-occurring El Niño event will also release heat from the tropical Pacific.’

El Niño is a reoccurring warming phase that takes place across the tropical Pacific following a La Niña cooling phase.

These periods shift back and forth irregularly every two to seven years, triggering rainfall and temperature changes.

The ocean’s La Niña phase ended in March this year, with El Niño expected to take ahold during the coming months.

This natural phenomenon combined with the emission of gases such as carbon dioxide are likely to worsen temperature highs from as soon as next year.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) anticipates that rainfall surges will be experienced across the Sahel region of Africa, northern Europe, Alaska and Siberia as a result.

Rainfall is also likely to plummet across the Amazon and parts of Australia during the same time period of 2023 to 2027.

Meanwhile, Arctic heating is predicted to be more than three times higher than the global average, amidst fears of worsening ice sheet melt.

Over the five years, temperatures are predicted to be between 1.98°F (1.1°C) and 3.24°F (1.8°C) higher than the 1850-1900 average – a slippery slope towards breaking the Paris Agreement.

This legally binding climate change treaty came into force in 2016, seeking to limit the temperature increase to 2.7°F (1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels.

A total of 196 countries have signed this, including the US which initially refused due to Donald Trump’s disapproval.

Yet, the WMO believes that even if Paris levels are exceeded, this does not have to be a permanent change.

Arctic heating is predicted to be more than three times the global average between 2023-2027. Pictured: the Helheim glacier near Tasilaq, Greenland

Experts say there is a two-in-three chance of exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels which would break the Paris Agreement promises laid out in 2015 (Pictured: Paris, France 2022)

Future temperature extremes follow the hottest summer on record for Europe. Pictured: Wildfires in Tabara, Spain during the extreme heatwave of last year

Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas said: ‘This report does not mean that we will permanently exceed the 1.5°C level specified in the Paris Agreement which refers to long-term warming over many years.

‘However, WMO is sounding the alarm that we will breach the 1.5°C level on a temporary basis with increasing frequency.’

The bleak report follows other research showing that Europe endured its hottest summer on record in 2022.

Extreme heatwaves and drought gripped hold of the continent during this time, which are only expected to worsen.

Summer wildfires also generated the highest carbon emissions in 15 years — leading to a record melt of Alpine glaciers as five cubic kilometers of ice disappeared.

Director of C3S, Carlo Buontempo, warned these figures were ‘alarming’ but crucial to understanding how we can better cope with the impacts of climate change.

He said: ‘The report highlights alarming changes to our climate, including the hottest summer ever recorded in Europe, marked by unprecedented marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea and record-breaking temperatures in Greenland.

‘Understanding the climate dynamics in Europe is crucial for our efforts to adapt and mitigate the negative impacts climate change has on the continent.’

EUROPE’S WILDFIRES IN 2022

France

(Gironde)- Two fires have blazed in France’s southwestern Gironde region since June 12, one along the Atlantic Coast, the other around the town of Landiras south of Bordeaux.

The fires, fuelled by dryness and temperatures as high as 42.6 degree Celsius, have burned around 47,700 acres, as of July 19. About 34,000 people have been ordered to evacuate the area.

Spain

(Zamora)- Fuelled by record-breaking heat wave, the fire started on June 15, in the province of Zamora. Flames scorched at least 61,000 acres and more than 6,000 people were evacuated from 32 villages in the area. Two persons have died and three others were critically injured.

(Sierra Bermeja)- A fire started June 8 in Malaga province, on the slope of Pujerra mountain in Sierra Bermeja. It ravaged 8,600 acres of woods and bushes, forced evacuation of 2,000 people from the nearby town of Benahavis, and injured three firefighters. The flames are now stabilised.

Turkey

(Mugla) – A wildfire broke out on July 13 near the town of Marmaris, in the Aegean province of Mugla, and spread through the woodlands in the sparsely populated area. About 17 houses and nearly 1,800 acres of land were ravaged. Some 450 houses and 3,530 people were evacuated.

Portugal

(Murca) – A wildfire started on July 17 in the Murca municipality, in northern Portugal, and spread towards Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Carrazedo de Montenegro.

The blaze has affected roughly 14,800 acres, according to the EU’s Earth Observation Programme Copernicus. An elderly couple was found dead inside a burned-out car.

(Ourem) – Several wildfires broke out on July 7 in the Leiria and Santarem districts, in the Ourém municipality. Over 7,413.1 hectares have burned and authorities have blocked major motorways and side streets as strong winds made it harder for firefighters to fight the flames. Portugal’s most important highway was also blocked due to another fire farther north.

Source: Reuters