Ocean water in the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region and a well-known tourist hot spot, reached 77.2°F (25.1°C) in June and July in what experts have defined as an extreme maritime heatwave, according to a statement by the Portuguese Navy published on July 17.
A maritime heatwave occurs when water temperatures are significantly higher, within the 90th percentile compared to the average temperature, for a period of five or more consecutive days. This was the case in the Algarve, where temperatures were about 9°F (5°C) higher than the average recorded in the last 20 years.The warming of the ocean is one of the most alarming changes driven by human‑induced climate change.
Research conducted by NASA shows that 90% of global warming is occurring in the ocean, and data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer show that global ocean surface temperatures began breaking daily records in mid‑March 2023.
This temperature rise could have catastrophic effects, fueling concerns for marine life and extreme weather events across the planet.
Intrigued? Click through this gallery to learn more about rising ocean temperatures and their devastating consequences.