About 30 thousand fish were found dead off the coast of Western Australia: a frightening death to which it is certainly to connect the climatic crisis.
A analysis of the non-profit climate Central group that discovered how the waters off the western Australia are affected by Waves of prolonged sea heat now since September And how climate change has made the wave of sea heat 20 times more likely (and, in the most affected period – in November – even up to 100 times more likely).
The heat waves occur when an area exceeds 90% of the temperatures recorded for that period of the year for at least five consecutive days and the regions off the north-western coast were the hottest, with ocean temperatures of 1.5 ° C higher than average in a period of five months and sometimes 4 ° C or 5 ° C higher on the surface.
It is possible that prolonged thermal stress due to the conditions of the ocean is associated with the death of fish – explains the spokesperson of the department of primary industries and regional development (DPIrd) Nathan Harrison. Following the recent tropical cyclone, the strength of the marine heat wave has decreased. However, we are moving towards the summer months at the highest risk.
The temperatures of the sea surface are about 4-5 degrees centigrade above the long-term average and here, in these parts, the heat has started to increase in the north in September and then arose slowly in the western part of Australia, with the ocean that warmed on the surface.
Second Matt Raysonoceanographer of the University of Western Australia, 90% of the extra energy trapped by greenhouse gases were stored in the ocean, increasing the probability of ocean heat waves. In addition to the effects on marine life, this additional energy could translate into serious weather events, including tropical cyclones.
In short, marine heat waves are not at all random but connected to climate change and became more intense and frequent as we continue to pollute the atmosphere.
Human beings are influencing the planet in many ways. We are used to thinking about how it strikes us on the mainland, but is influencing everything on the planet, and the ocean is such a great part of our planet, the scholars conclude.