Hurricane Beryl, The Texas Coast, And The Growing Threat of Extreme Weather
From Denial to Disaster: The Texas GOPs role in the climate emergency.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/hurricane-beryl-the-texas-coast-and
Why is the ocean heating up?
Record ocean temperatures, driving the intensity of storms like Hurricane Beryl, are primarily due to human-induced climate change. The main contributor to rising ocean temperatures is the increase in greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet. The oceans absorb this heat, leading to higher sea surface temperatures.
Over the past few decades, the frequency and intensity of marine heat waves have increased dramatically. These heatwaves, driven by global warming, can lead to significant disruptions in marine ecosystems, causing mass migration or death of marine life, coral bleaching, and shifts in fisheries, which all have profound ecological and economic impacts.
If you missed it earlier this week: Shark attacks four beachgoers on South Padre Island on July 4.
ABCNews: Scientists say global warming may be the reason for the increase in shark attacks.
In addition to the long-term global warming trend, specific events have recently exacerbated the situation. For example, transitioning from La Niña to El Niño typically results in warmer ocean conditions. This shift, combined with reduced sulfate emissions from new shipping regulations and increased stratospheric water vapor from volcanic eruptions, has pushed ocean temperatures to unprecedented levels.