Is it too hot to go in the water?
Current Event Friday
Data Scavenger Hunt
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above:
So far, this has been the hottest year on record on land and on the water. On July 31, 2023 what was the average sea surface temperature?
How much hotter was the average sea surface temperature on July 31, 2023 than the average July 31 from 1979-2022?
Describe the difference between 2023 average temperatures and those from 1979-2022.
According to the map above, which oceans are experiencing higher than average temperatures?
Have sea surface temperatures ever been recorded as high as they have been since May?
Big Brain Questions
Answer these questions by yourself using your brain and the links below:
List one thing the visual makes you wonder:
Based on the trends from the visual above, what prediction would you make about the sea surface temperatures for the rest of this year?
Last week, the hottest sea surface water ever recorded was a reading from a buoy off the coast of Florida recorded a stunning 101.1 degrees Fahrenheit, or just over 38 Celsius. The average hot tub temperature is about 102 degrees Fahrenheit. This summer I was in Las Vegas where the air temperature was 115 and the water temperature in a hot tub was 102 degrees. Would this be a good time to invest in hot tubs?
The extreme heat is devastating Florida’s coral reefs, but high ocean temperatures can have more widespread impacts, too, disrupting other marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. How do you imagine the rising sea surface temperatures will most impact your life?
This year’s spike in global sea surface temperatures is concerning, but it is not exactly unexpected in a warming world. Global climate models have projected how oceans could heat up if we continue to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at roughly our current rate. According to the visual below* how does July’s high sea surface temperatures compare to the expected range of climate model predictions?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Make a list of five ways climate change is impacting your life and five things you can do about that.
Get Creative
The ocean has “been doing us a big service by delaying global warming considerably,” said Dr. Gregory Johnson, an oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But it comes at a cost.” As the ocean stores more heat, its water expands, contributing to sea level rise. Warmer ocean temperatures also provide more fodder for tropical cyclones and atmospheric river storms. Write a thank you note to the ocean.
Learn More
Listen to this story from NPR.
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