Florida Ocean Temperature Skyrockets Signalling Grave Danger For Marine Life

On Monday night, an alarming event occurred in Manatee Bay, Florida, where a buoy recorded an ocean temperature of over 101 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme heat is unprecedented in the coastal waters and raises serious concerns for the marine ecosystem.

The buoy, owned by Everglades National Park and operated by the National Data Buoy Center, measured the temperature around five feet below the surface of South Florida’s east coast at 10 p.m. ET. The recorded temperature of over 101 degrees Fahrenheit is exceptionally high and has implications for the delicate coral reefs in the area.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coral reefs typically thrive within temperatures ranging from 73 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The significant deviation from this optimal range poses a major threat to the health and survival of the reefs.

While the reading is at an all-time high, comparing it with other top tasks is challenging due to the unique circumstances of its recording. The official record for the hottest ocean surface temperature stands at 99.7 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in Kuwait Bay in the Persian Gulf.

However, the Manatee Bay reading may surpass this, raising questions about its status as a new world record. The location of the buoys within Florida Bay, with its shallow, murky, and dark waters, affects water temperatures differently compared to more transparent waters with more pronounced water movement. This uniqueness makes direct comparisons challenging.

Over the past weeks, the persistently intense heat experienced in Florida’s coastal waters has raised significant environmental concerns. Marine biologist Phanor Montoya Maya from the Coral Restoration Foundation warns that if water temperatures remain above 84 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period, corals will experience stress and bleaching. This process deprives them of vital nutrition and poses a severe risk to the health and well-being of the coral reefs in the area.

The situation is becoming critical as even the most resilient corals on Florida’s Coral Reef face an existential threat due to the extreme temperatures. Tragically, some corals are already dying due to heat stress, underscoring the severity of the impact on the delicate coral ecosystems in the area.

Overall, the recent ocean temperature reading of over 101 degrees Fahrenheit in Manatee Bay has highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change and its effects on marine environments, particularly the fragile coral reefs facing an uncertain future.

Reference: The Guardian, CNBC, NDTV

Florida Ocean Temperature Skyrockets Signalling Grave Danger For Marine Life appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News