SCUBAHUB
Scientists alarmed by ocean temperature rises
CLIMATOLOGISTS ARE PREDICTING A powerful El Niño weather event , just as news breaks of a rapid , unanticipated heating of the world ’ s oceans . In March , sea surface temperatures off the east coast of North America were as much as 13.8 ° C higher than the 1981-2011 average .
“ It ’ s not yet well established , why such a rapid and huge change is happening ,” said Karina Von Schuckmann , lead author of the study in global heat storage . “ We have doubled the heat in the climate system [ over ] the past 15 years . I don ’ t want to say this is climate change , or natural variability , or a mixture of both . We don ’ t know yet ; but we do see this change .”
Bizarrely , one factor that could be influencing the level of heat going into the oceans is a reduction in pollution from shipping . In 2020 , the International Maritime Organisation put in place a regulation to reduce the sulphur content of fuel burned by ships .
This had an immediate effect in reducing the aerosol particles released into the atmosphere . However , aerosols that dirty the air can also reflect heat back into space ; removing them may have caused more heat to enter the oceans .
The average surface temperature of the world ’ s seas has increased by about 0.9 ° C compared to preindustrial levels , with 0.6 ° C coming in the past 40 years . Warmer oceans can kill off marine life , leading to extreme weather and raising sea levels .
Added to this is the weather event known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation . For the past three years this naturally occurring phenomenon has been in a cooler phase called La Niña , and has helped keep global temperatures in check .
But researchers now believe that a strong El Niño is forming off the shores of Peru and Ecuador , which will have significant implications for the world , potentially adding to global warming .
Pete Hamerton with Danielle and Dave Lucas
It ’ s that classic cenote-weddinginstructor-crossover love story
BSAC NATIONAL INSTRUCTOR DAVE Lucas recently took time out of his holiday after his wedding in Mexico to complete an Instructor Crossover for a local BSAC Centre .
Dave , and his fiancée Danielle Klaczynska had travelled out to the Mexican resort of Playa Del Carmen with plans to get married in one of the region ’ s cenotes . But the newlyweds still managed to find time to help dive centre Underworld Tulum with a BSAC Instructor Crossover course for their instructor , Pete Hamerton .
Having completed the initial training and lectures online with Pete before flying out to Mexico in February , Dave and Advanced Instructor and Instructor Trainer Danielle coordinated the practical sessions in one of the nearby well-known cenotes , Ponderosa .
Now a BSAC Open Water Instructor , Pete said he enjoyed the whole crossover training experience and thanked the newlyweds for their time and support .
“ I couldn ’ t have asked for more experienced and knowledgeable mentors in Dave and Danielle , and I ’ m now looking forward to helping BSAC students to progress with their diving .”
The couple said they were happy to give up a day of their two-week holiday to complete the practical sessions with Pete . “ We are now looking forward to our honeymoon travelling through New Zealand next year !” Dave added .
Romancing the Cenotes
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