22. April 2025
Ocean Surface Temperature Rise Accelerating, Study Reveals
Study results show ocean warming has accelerated since the 1980s
A study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals an unprecedented acceleration in global mean sea surface temperature (GMSST) over the past four decades, with warming rates from 0.06 C per decade in the late 1980s to 0.27 C per decade in recent years. This acceleration, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions and Earth's energy imbalance, poses significant challenges to achieving the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.
Led by Professor Chris Merchant of Reading University, the research highlights the critical role of satellite data in monitoring ocean warming and its implications for climate change. The study also underscores the need for continuous data improvements to refine climate models and better predict future warming.
Read more about the details of how short-term phenomena like El Niño and volcanic eruptions interact with long-term trends, and explore the vital connection between sea surface temperatures and Earth's energy dynamics: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Space_for_our_climate/Sea_surface_warming_faster_than_expected
