Locals on the Hibiscus Coast and around the world are witnessing unprecedented changes in ocean temperatures, as 2024 marked the warmest year on record across three vital global metrics.

According to Dr Kevin Trenberth, an honorary academic at the University of Auckland, the three metrics—global mean surface temperature (GMST), global sea surface temperatures (SST), and global ocean heat content (OHC)—all reached record highs in 2024.

This simultaneous increase has not occurred since 2016.

The OHC, considered the most reliable indicator of a warming planet, showed an increase of 15 zettajoules from 2023 to 2024.

This is equivalent to 140 times the world’s total electricity generation in 2023.

Dr Trenberth emphasised the significance of OHC as it integrates all heating, providing a clear picture of the planet's warming.

From April 2023 to June 2024, global SSTs also reached record levels, peaking in February 2024 with a value exceeding 19.1 degrees Celsius.

This warming was influenced by an El Niño event that began in April 2023 and waned by mid-2024.

As the El Niño subsided, SSTs declined, though the lingering effects of elevated ocean temperatures persisted.

University of Auckland honorary academic Dr Kevin Trenberth.

Dr Trenberth explained that the warming oceans contribute to increased atmospheric moisture, exacerbating weather extremes.

"The increased water vapour fuels storms, leading to heavier rains, hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones," he said.

Severe droughts, wildfires, and extreme weather events were recorded worldwide in 2024, including mass bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef and devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels also reached record highs, now exceeding 425 parts per million, more than 50 percent above preindustrial levels.

Human activities, primarily fossil fuel combustion, remain the dominant driver of these increases, with additional contributions from wildfires.

While the impacts of warming oceans are global, they vary regionally due to weather patterns and marine heatwaves.

These changes affect marine ecosystems, agriculture, and human health, underscoring the urgent need to understand and address these challenges.

Dr Trenberth concluded, "Increased awareness of the risks and investment in resilience to weather extremes is always a good step forward."

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