UK waters hit by extreme heatwave as global ocean temperatures reach record levels | Extreme heat
UK waters are being hit by an “extreme” sea heat wave, the Met Office has said, as scientists warn that higher sea temperatures around the world could lead to “mass die-offs” for some species.
Forecasters said the high temperatures were accelerated by last month’s heat wave, when much of Europe sweltered in the worst heatwave on record, which scientists said would not have happened without a climate crisis.
The third summer heatwave has hit the UK this week, with temperatures on track to exceed 30C for up to 10 days in a row. Dr Ségolène Berthou, an expert in air-sea interaction at the Met Office, said that these wind conditions are driving the heat in the sea.
“The ocean didn’t have enough time to cool down between the two terrestrial heat waves,” he said.
The oceans absorb more than 90% of the excess energy in the Earth’s system, which is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
Berthou said this is the third and strongest sea heat wave the UK has seen this year, with temperatures on average 2C warmer than normal and some areas reaching “severe” conditions where water temperatures are 4-5C warmer than normal. “There is no sign of it ending,” added Berthou.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service and the Copernicus Marine Service have confirmed that the global sea temperature exceeded the previous records for this time of year, set in 2023 and 2024. This was expected to follow the development of El Niño conditions, which scientists predict will be the strongest in decades.
The Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, said that the world must treat the arrival of El Niño conditions “as an emergency weather warning”.
He said: “The only effective response is climate action that fits the problem: breaking the addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the transition to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems to all.”
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Professor John Pinnegar, principal scientist and lead adviser at the Center for Environment, Fish and Aquatic Sciences, said these extreme ocean heatwaves could lead to “mass mortality events” in other marine species and alter the distribution of important fish and shellfish.
He said: “Prolonged periods of high sea temperatures could also encourage new species to visit UK waters, establishing new populations, potentially shaking up the UK’s ecosystem.”
Record numbers of octopuses were found off the coast of south-west England last year, changing the fishing industry and the marine ecosystem. A record 100 tonnes of octopus were sold in one day at Brixham market last month.
