London: The upper depths of the oceans of the Earth have warmed significantly over the last 20 years causing an increase in the number of severe hurricanes, storm surges, loss of ice and change in global weather patterns, according
to a new report.
The report which was presented at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii yesterday has found the upper depths of the world's oceans have warmed significantly since 1995. A chapter of the study, led by Professor Grant Bigg and Professor Edward Hanna from the University of Sheffield's Department of Geography, has disclosed how this increase in sea temperatures has changed global weather patterns.
The scientists have shown that the rise in ocean temperatures has caused an increase in the number of severe hurricanes and typhoons, such as Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005, and Typhoon Haiyan, which
caused massive destruction in the Philippines in 2013. Hurricanes have even been observed in the South Atlantic for the first time since satellite records began in the 1970s.
The area was traditionally viewed as an unlikely region for hurricane formation because of its cooler sea surface temperatures, however in 2004 conditions were more favourable than normal due to warmer ocean temperatures, spawning
Hurricane Catarina off the coast of Brazil. The report also shows that warmer seas have resulted in a significant loss of ice in the Arctic region.
The atmosphere in the polar regions has warmed at about twice the average rate of global warming with Arctic coasts experiencing a rise in the occurrence of storm surges. This increase in storm surges can have a detrimental effect on fragile ecosystems in the area, such as low relief tundra, underlain by permafrost, according to the report. Warmer oceans have also caused a distinct change in El Nino events the warmer currents associated with the cycle have now been observed towards the central Pacific rather than the west, according to the Sheffield scientists.
Professor Grant Bigg, from the University's Department of Geography, said: "Many people may associate warmer seas with the pleasant weather conditions they're used to experiencing while on holiday, but the fact of the matter is that an
increase in sea temperatures is having a huge impact on the world's weather.
"Our study has shown that severe hurricanes, storm surges, melting ice in the Arctic region and changes to El Nino are all being caused by sea temperatures rising across the planet. These are all things that can have a devastating impact on the way we live our lives," he said.
