Top Posts
Earthquake hits Northern Iran amid tensions with Israel
Flash Flood: Ogun appeals to residents not to...
VP seeks collaboration to tackle Illegal migration, climate...
Fashion brands accused of shortcuts on climate pledges
BRICS countries develop shared position on climate finance
Europe launches climate change commission
Macron rebukes climate change deniers Ahead of Nice...
Zulum, others urge FG to accelerate N80bn rehabilitation...
Group Advocates Stronger Policies To Mitigate Climate Change
Death toll from Mokwa flood rises to 153
EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World
World

Report: N’Zealand’s sea temperatures hit record highs

by admineconai July 11, 2024
written by admineconai July 11, 2024
405

Latest reports suggests that New Zealand’s sea temperatures have hit record highs, outstripping global averages threefold in one region, and prompting alarm over the health of the country’s marine life and ecosystems.

New data from Stats NZ shows since 1982, oceanic sea-surface temperatures have increased on average between 0.16 – 0.26C a decade, and between 0.19–0.34C a decade, in coastal waters. Each oceanic and coastal region experienced their hottest years ever recorded in either 2022 or 2023.

When comparing data from the previous 20 years, the rate of ocean surface warming around New Zealand has outstripped the global per decade average of 0.18C twofold, with one region – the Chatham Rise – three times warmer than the global average, said Matt Pinkerton, a principal scientist at the National Institute for Water and Atmospherics.

New Zealand may be experiencing higher temperatures due to its geographical position and the way the global ocean currents move and carry heat, he said.

“New Zealand sits sandwiched between the Pacific, the Tasman Sea and the Southern Oceans – there’s a lot of warming associated in all three of those areas, so we are getting the heat from all directions.”

Read also: Death toll from Landslide at illegal gold mine in Indonesia rises to 23

Pinkerton said New Zealand’s high temperatures dispel the notion that the island nation is protected from extreme temperatures.

“Because we are surrounded by so much ocean, we [thought] we were protected a bit by warming effects, this [data] is saying that’s not true.”

Marine heatwaves – prolonged periods of unusual seawater warmth – also reached new levels. The Western North Island experienced heatwave conditions for 89% of 2022 – the highest among coastal regions – while the Tasman Sea spent 61% of the year in a heatwave, the highest among oceanic regions.

“Even small rises in temperature can disrupt marine ecosystems, cause some species to relocate, and increase disease risks,” said Stuart Jones, the environmental and agricultural statistics manager at Stats NZ.

Previous intense marine heatwaves have already been linked to mass sea sponge bleaching in New Zealand, die-offs of southern bull kelp, large scale fish strandings and penguin deaths.

Story was adapted from the Guardian.

HighNew ZealandSeaTemperatures
0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
admineconai

previous post
Death toll from Landslide at illegal gold mine in Indonesia rises to 23
next post
Climate expert appointed to lead UK clean energy taskforce

Related Posts

Fashion brands accused of shortcuts on climate pledges

June 12, 2025

BRICS countries develop shared position on climate finance

June 12, 2025

Europe launches climate change commission

June 12, 2025

Macron rebukes climate change deniers Ahead of Nice...

June 9, 2025

Scientists say nearly 40% of the world’s glaciers...

June 3, 2025

German court dismisses climate case against RWE

May 28, 2025

WHO Climate Change action plan approved

May 28, 2025

Report: World likely to breach 1.5°C limit in...

May 28, 2025

At Bonn climate talks, Brazil demands early deals...

May 23, 2025

Guterres raises alarm over rapid Himalayan glacier melt

May 17, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Bloglovin
  • Vimeo

@2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Eco-Nai+

EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World