Possible Reason: Reduced Pollution from Ships
Research suggests that stricter shipping regulations that took effect in 2020 may have contributed to rising ocean temperatures.
The new rules demand that ships burn cleaner fuel, which still releases some greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. However, this cleaner fuel emits less sulfur into the air.
Sulfur from shipping fuel used to help form clouds. These clouds reflect sunlight back into space, keeping the ocean cooler.
With less sulfur, there are fewer clouds, so more of the sun’s energy reaches the ocean, heating it. This phenomenon could be making the ocean warmer.
However, understanding how exactly this works involves complex science. There are many unknowns about how clouds form from air pollutants.
Some initial studies suggest that ocean areas most affected by reduced ship pollution have seen a rise in temperatures.
The positive side of this is that humans are not adding extra greenhouse gases to cause this warming; the world is just now feeling heat that was previously blocked by pollution.
Possible Reason: 2022 Tonga Volcanic Eruption
A massive underwater volcano erupted near Tonga in 2022. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption sent huge amounts of sulfur, ash, and water vapor into the sky.
This led some scientists to speculate that the eruption might have trapped extra heat, causing higher ocean temperatures.
Normally, volcanic eruptions cool the Earth a bit since sulfur and ash block sunlight. But since the Tonga eruption happened underwater, it released a lot of water vapor, which can trap heat.
Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, meaning it holds heat from the sun.
Despite these initial thoughts, recent research indicates that the eruption likely didn’t play a major role in the warming oceans.
Scientists, including NASA experts, analyzed satellite data and found no strong evidence that the eruption caused warming. If anything, it might have slightly cooled the climate, similar to other volcanic eruptions in the past.
Possible Reason: Changes in Solar Activity
Another point of focus has been the sun, our primary source of energy. The sun’s energy output changes slightly during its 11-year cycle.
Over this cycle, the amount of energy the sun sends out changes by about 0.1%.
This tiny change can lead to small shifts in global temperatures, but it doesn’t account for the drastic rise in ocean temperatures seen recently.
Researchers argue that the sun’s variations are too minor to explain the record-breaking heat in the oceans.
The vast size of the ocean also means it doesn’t heat up quickly from small increases in solar energy. So, while the sun does affect the Earth’s climate in minor ways, it’s not the main culprit here.
Possible Reason: Unusual Patterns and Trends
Lastly, scientists are also looking at other unusual patterns and trends to understand why ocean temperatures are so high. Some think that there might be some less obvious factors at play.
These could include unique weather patterns or other natural variances that existing models haven’t accounted for yet.
Research in this area is ongoing, as scientists continue to study these trends to unveil if there’s something unspecified contributing to the warmth.
By identifying these elements, researchers hope to get a clearer picture of what’s been affecting the ocean’s heat levels and how to predict future changes.
