'Unprecedented' marine heatwave taking place off Irish and British coasts
TheJournal.ieJun 19, 2023
Scientists warn that an “unheard of” marine heatwave off the coasts of the UK and Ireland poses a serious threat to marine species.
Water temperatures in the North Atlantic Ocean are up to 4°C higher than usual for this time of year, with the US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) designating the weather event as a "Category 4 Extreme Heatwave."
The extreme weather of this marine heatwave shows the destructive power of human-caused climate change. If this continues throughout the summer, many species of marine life off the coasts of Ireland and England may die.
While hot waters off the coasts of Ireland and England may lead to marine life die-offs, they may also potentially cause an influx of basking sharks and stingrays. The marine ecosystem may adjust but there is a possibility of more biodiversity being brought into the region as patterns shift.
There is a 50% chance that the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf will collapse by October 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.