The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported recently that the ocean surface temperatures hit the record highs in June, 2009.
According to the data, the combined land and sea surface temperatures were the highest on record: 1.12 degrees F (0.62 C) above the previous century’s 59.9 F, while the ocean’s temperature alone was 1.06 F (0.59 C) higher.
The culprit for these drastic changes is the global warming and the results for this summer so far are:
• Heavy rains resulting in floods and mudslides in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Unusual warmth experienced mainly in Africa, Siberia, Black and Mediterranean Seas.
• American northern plains, Canadian Prairie Provinces as well as central Asia recorded temperatures cooler than normal for this season.
• Arctic ice coverage was below the average recorded previously and rapidly melting leading to more open water and thus more heat absorption, which in turn causes the temperature of the ocean to rise speeding up the melting of the ice.
The scientists now warn that at this rate (if nothing changes and the global warming culprits are not lessened) the Arctic ice could disappear in about 30 years, while previously estimated that it wouldn’t happen until at least the end of the 21st century.
