In this episode of the Climate Emergency Forum, host Herb Simmens and experts Dr. Peter Carter and Paul Beckwith discuss the critical issue of climate-driven ocean heating. The panel explores the alarming acceleration of ocean temperatures, its impacts on marine life, and the broader implications for global climate systems.
This video was recorded on February 5th, 2025, and published on February 16th, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.
Dr. Peter Carter highlights the quadrupling of ocean surface temperatures over the past 40 years and the potential for ocean heat to start feeding back into global warming. Paul Beckwith provides a comprehensive overview of how human activities have altered ocean currents, biodiversity, and chemical composition. Both experts emphasize the interconnectedness of ocean health with atmospheric conditions and discuss recent findings, including James Hansen's latest research on climate sensitivity and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
The conversation also touches on marine heat waves, their devastating effects on sea creatures, and the triple assault of ocean heating, acidification, and deoxygenation. While the overall tone is sobering, the panel mentions some positive efforts like marine-protected areas and coral reef preservation projects. They stress the urgent need for immediate and aggressive action to reduce emissions and protect our oceans, which play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate.
Links:
- Record High Temperatures in the Ocean in 2024
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00376-025-4541-3
- Climate variability shifts the vertical structure of phytoplankton in the Sargasso Sea
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02136-6
- UK Met Office Report
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/seasonal-to-decadal/long-range/forecasts/co2-forecast
- Ocean warming and acidification threaten key ocean plankton groups, study warns
https://phys.org/news/2024-11-ocean-acidification-threaten-key-plankton.html#google_vignette
- Climate change effects on plankton recruitment from coastal sediments
https://academic.oup.com/plankt/article/46/2/117/7608766?login=false
- Climate Change: Ocean Heat Content
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-ocean-heat-content
- Global Warming Has Accelerated. Why? What Are the Consequences? (pdf)
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2025/Acceleration.12Feb2025.pdf
- No 1.5 Without Intervention (CEF Video)
https://youtu.be/IYfiSWVbFuQ?si=gucqis1bU0O9bVzg
- Climate change target of 2C is 'dead' says renowned climate scientist
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/04/climate-change-target-of-2c-is-dead-says-renowned-climate-scientist
- Last Interglacial
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Interglacial
- Analysis: How low-sulfur shipping rules are affecting global warming
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-how-low-sulphur-shipping-rules-are-affecting-global-warming/
Regular Panelists:
Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute
Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa's Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University
Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.
Video Production:
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader
Heidi Brault - Video production and website assistant, Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP26 team lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum; BA (Psychology); Climate Reality Leader
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https://climateemergencyforum.org/
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Attributions:
Background Music:
- Title: Through the City II
- Author: Crowander
- Source: crowander.com
Image and Video: https://climateemergencyforum.org/assets/attributions/2025-02-16-climate-driven-ocean-heating.html