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Wednesday, September 7th, 2016

Soaring ocean temperature is ‘greatest hidden challenge of our generation’

Author:     Oliver Milman
Source:     The Guardian (U.K.)
Publication Date:     Monday 5 September 2016 14.00 EDT
 Link: Soaring ocean temperature is ‘greatest hidden challenge of our generation’
Stephan:   As readers know I have just returned from cruising in Alaskan and Northern Canadian waters. It was an eye-opening experience. The waterfalls are disappearing, and we saw ocean temperatures as high as 75°F. Fishermen we ran into at fueling docks and moorings, reported that they had had the worst year since 1965 because all the fish had gone north into Russian waters to get away from the rising sea temperatures. Do you hear about any of this in the ongoing train wreck of American politics? Of course not, not a word. And now it looks like American voters may elect Donald Trump to the Presidency, and that will mean nothing meaningful will be done about climate change.  Civilization as we know it hangs in the balance.
polar bears on melting ice

The scale of warming in the ocean is ‘truly staggering’, the report warns. Credit: Ralph Lee Hopkins/Alamy

HONOLULU — The soaring temperature of the oceans is the “greatest hidden challenge of our generation” that is altering the make-up of marine species, shrinking fishing areas and starting to spread disease to humans, according to the most comprehensive analysis yet of ocean warming.

The oceans have already sucked up an enormous amount of heat due to escalating greenhouse gas emissions, affecting marine species from microbes to whales, according to an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) report involving the work of 80 scientists from a dozen countries.

The profound changes underway in the oceans are starting to impact people, the report states. “Due to a domino effect, key human sectors are at threat, especially fisheries, aquaculture, coastal risk management, health and coastal tourism.”

Dan Laffoley, IUCN marine adviser and one of the report’s lead authors, said: “What we are seeing now is running well ahead of what we can cope with. The […]

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