recently IPCC The report sounded a red alert and issued arguably its strongest ever warning on climate change. it says that Indian Ocean Warming at a higher rate than other oceans. TOI breaks it down for you
How hot has the Indian Ocean become?
The Indian Ocean has warmed faster than the global average. The surface temperature of the tropical Indian Ocean increased by an average of 1 °C during 1951–2015, compared to the global average of 0.7 °C. Indian Ocean is not the only ocean that is warming faster than the global average – Western Equatorial Pacific Ocean is also.
Why has the Indian Ocean warmed faster than the global average?
According to the tropical ocean there is a lot of heat Swapna Panickel, Scientist Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. And in the case of the Indian Ocean, the body of water freezes due to heat accumulation in the northern parts – by the South Asian land mass – in the north. By comparison, the Atlantic Ocean is open to the northern polar regions, allowing heat to dissipate into cooler waters. Another possible cause: the southwest monsoon circulation, which plays a role in directing heat north indian ocean To the south, it has weakened in recent decades. Due to this, more heat can be stored in the North Indian Ocean.
Does this mean that the area’Sea Level up too fast?
Not necessary. Sea level in the North Indian Ocean rose at a rate of 1.06–1.75 mm–1 per year from 1874 to 2004, and 3.3 mm–1 per year between 1993–2015. This is equivalent to a rise in the global mean sea level. However, relative sea levels are believed to have risen sharply.
What are relative sea-levels and why have they risen rapidly in Asia?
Relative sea level refers to the level of the sea in relation to land. For example, the northern coasts of the Bay of Bengal – West Bengal and Bangladesh – have seen sea level rise by 5 mm and over a year (compared to a total of 3.3 mm in the north Indian Ocean). that’s because Bengal Delta sinking, adding to the effects of sea level rise. Due to both natural and developmental factors, land degradation is occurring in many parts of Asia, especially in the deltas. For example, some parts of Jakarta are sinking by as much as 10 centimeters a year.
What about future sea level rise in the region?
If the Indian Ocean continues to warm faster than the global average, sea levels could begin to rise rapidly. Unlike some oceans, most of the sea level rise in the Indian Ocean is due to warming – because water expands in volume when it warms – and not so much due to melting of glaciers and ice. But there is uncertainty over the melting of ice sheets such as the Greenland ice sheet, which contributes to global sea level rise.
How hot has the Indian Ocean become?
The Indian Ocean has warmed faster than the global average. The surface temperature of the tropical Indian Ocean increased by an average of 1 °C during 1951–2015, compared to the global average of 0.7 °C. Indian Ocean is not the only ocean that is warming faster than the global average – Western Equatorial Pacific Ocean is also.
Why has the Indian Ocean warmed faster than the global average?
According to the tropical ocean there is a lot of heat Swapna Panickel, Scientist Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. And in the case of the Indian Ocean, the body of water freezes due to heat accumulation in the northern parts – by the South Asian land mass – in the north. By comparison, the Atlantic Ocean is open to the northern polar regions, allowing heat to dissipate into cooler waters. Another possible cause: the southwest monsoon circulation, which plays a role in directing heat north indian ocean To the south, it has weakened in recent decades. Due to this, more heat can be stored in the North Indian Ocean.
Does this mean that the area’Sea Level up too fast?
Not necessary. Sea level in the North Indian Ocean rose at a rate of 1.06–1.75 mm–1 per year from 1874 to 2004, and 3.3 mm–1 per year between 1993–2015. This is equivalent to a rise in the global mean sea level. However, relative sea levels are believed to have risen sharply.
What are relative sea-levels and why have they risen rapidly in Asia?
Relative sea level refers to the level of the sea in relation to land. For example, the northern coasts of the Bay of Bengal – West Bengal and Bangladesh – have seen sea level rise by 5 mm and over a year (compared to a total of 3.3 mm in the north Indian Ocean). that’s because Bengal Delta sinking, adding to the effects of sea level rise. Due to both natural and developmental factors, land degradation is occurring in many parts of Asia, especially in the deltas. For example, some parts of Jakarta are sinking by as much as 10 centimeters a year.
What about future sea level rise in the region?
If the Indian Ocean continues to warm faster than the global average, sea levels could begin to rise rapidly. Unlike some oceans, most of the sea level rise in the Indian Ocean is due to warming – because water expands in volume when it warms – and not so much due to melting of glaciers and ice. But there is uncertainty over the melting of ice sheets such as the Greenland ice sheet, which contributes to global sea level rise.
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