Oceans Absorb 23 Zettajoules of Heat as Tanzania's Seaweed Farmers Lose Their Harvests

Oceans Absorb 23 Zettajoules of Heat as Tanzania's Seaweed Farmers Lose Their Harvests

The world's oceans absorbed a record 23 zettajoules of heat last year — nearly 40 times all the energy humanity used — and the effects are already hitting coastal communities in Tanzania, where seaweed farmers say their crops are shrinking.

· 2 min read ·
climatewaterdisastersnatureafrica

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The world's oceans absorbed a record 23 zettajoules of heat last year, an amount almost 40 times greater than all the energy humanity used during the same period, according to a new report [254440]. A zettajoule is a unit of energy equal to one sextillion joules.

The massive addition of thermal energy is causing sea levels to rise and oceans to become more acidic, making ocean waters hotter, higher, and less hospitable for life [254440].

In Zanzibar, Tanzania, seaweed farmers are feeling the impact with every crop. Their harvests are shrinking as the sea they depend on transforms around them [254499]. The 10th Copernicus Ocean State Report documents these shifts, tracking rising sea levels, record ocean heat, and growing acidification [254499].

The problem is not limited to the ocean. Antarctica's winter sea ice has reached its third-lowest level ever recorded, covering about 1 million square kilometers (almost 400,000 square miles) less than the long-term average [253207]. This means the four lowest years for Antarctic sea ice have all occurred in the past four years [253207]. Scientists say global heating is likely driving these losses, which they describe as a "now problem" — not a distant threat [253207].

Sea ice is a vital part of Earth's climate system and is critical for marine life [253207].

The ocean's record heat absorption is also linked to rising global temperatures. Researchers warn that the current El Niño weather pattern could lead to 451,000 excess deaths from heat worldwide, offering a preview of conditions that may become normal within 20 years [254344]. El Niño is a recurring climate event that raises global temperatures [254344].

More than 451,000 people worldwide could die from heat in the next six months due to a super El Niño, climate scientists estimated [249056]. During El Niño, heat from the Pacific Ocean is released into the atmosphere, raising global temperatures [249056].

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Sources

Tanzania's Seaweed Farms Are Drowning in a Warmer Ocean #254499Oceans absorb record heat, 40 times global energy use #254440Antarctic Sea Ice Hits Third-Lowest Level on Record #253207El Niño Could Cause 451,000 Heat Deaths, Scientists Warn #254344Super El Niño to Cause 451,000 Heat Deaths #249056

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