Researchers predict that temperatures will continue to increase, making 2015 the hottest year the Earth has ever experienced.

Despite claims from climate change contrarians, global warming is not under control.

Scientists measuring the worldwide increase in temperature predict that 2015 will exceed the record-breaking heat wave that took place last year.

Tracking Temperature Changes

Multiple countries experienced the warmest temperatures on record during the month of September.
Image: NCDC

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracks temperatures across the world. The agency recently concluded that last month was the hottest September on record.

The temperature difference between September 2014 and 2015 has seen the biggest jump since 1880. In addition, the nine months between January and September has been the hottest period on record.

Effects of El Niño

El Niño is a notoriously warm ocean phase the begins in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and sends intense heat into the atmosphere. The weather pattern then transports the heat throughout the entire ocean.

Scientists have compared the most recent El Niño phase with the temperatures in 1997 and 1998, which shows how much damage greenhouse gases have done.

Increased heat in bodies of water causes severe, widespread effects. El Niño is associated with dry air and forest fires in Indonesia, droughts in Australia and Ethiopia and food emergencies across Africa. These patterns will continue to worsen as El Niño reaches its peak in the next few months.

Scientists predict that El Niño will cause unusual amounts of rain and snow to hit the American Southwest and California. While the rain will help to curb the drought, it may cause other dangerous natural occurrences such as floods and mudslides.

Although climate change isn’t responsible for each issue on its own,  the combination of global warming and a strong El Niño has caused disastrous effects.

Combating The Heat

Individuals in high-risk areas should stay out of the heat and keep hydrated to avoid the life-threatening effects of global warming.
Image: Newsweek

As the frequency of natural disasters increases throughout the world, politicians attempt to find a global solution to slow the temperature increase. In December, world leaders will convene in Paris to address the effects of climate change and actions to stop it.

The United Nation’s World Food Program will bring aid to Africa where food sources are greatly affected by the heat. The organization is asking for assistance to help the thousands of starving individuals in Ethiopia and other African nations.

Scientists claim that those who negate the existence of global warming are picking and choosing certain facts while ignoring others. The record-setting warmth of 2014 and 2015 has proven that climate change is still underway no matter how many politicians choose to ignore it.

The post Record-Breaking Temperatures Confirm Earth’s Hottest Year Yet appeared first on Citizens Report.

Scientists have issued a warning about a coral bleaching event that could kill thousands of reefs by the end of the year.

Scientists have confirmed that the world is currently in the middle of the third coral bleaching event to ever be recorded.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found global evidence to support the occurrence of major changes to coral reefs caused by rising ocean temperatures.

What Is Coral Bleaching?

Coral turns white after expelling the algae that provide nutrients to the reefs.
Image: Ocean Service

Stress on coral reefs causes coral bleaching. The bleaching is characterized by a rejection of the algae living on the coral’s form. Without the algae, the white skeleton is all that remains.

The presence of symbiotic algae handles the coral’s colorful appearance. The algae also provide the coral with essential nutrients that keep them alive.

The current instance of bleaching has been classified as a bleaching event because it spans more than 100 kilometers (63 miles) in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian ocean basins.  According to the NOAA, the XL Catlin Seaview Survey, Reef Check and the University of Queensland, the event is currently happening now.

Causes Of The Environmental Event

Rising ocean temperatures are the main cause of coral bleaching.
Image: NASA

According to NOAA, each bleaching event has been caused by an increase in ocean temperatures. Each event has occurred during unusually warm temperatures common during El Niño years.

The event is extremely dangerous because it could result in the death of more than 12,000 square kilometers (about 4,600 square miles) of coral reefs by the end of the year. El Niño temperatures will continue until 2016, which means that bleaching instances are likely to increase.

“Coral reefs are the litmus test of our oceans, a visual representation of the health of our seas,” CNN anchor and meteorologist Derek Van Dam said in an article. “When coral becomes bleached or white in color, this sensitive ecosystem is negatively impacted, which creates a profound ripple effect on the world’s food chain.”

While most people have ignored the threats to coral reefs, the XL Catlin Seaview Survey has been mapping its progress. The survey data is collected by a custom-made camera that travels on an underwater scooter and takes a 360-degree image of the ocean.

Scientists had tested coral in 26 different countries before and after the event began. According to Richard Vevers, the survey’s executive director, the goal of the survey is to track a global baseline of coral reefs that will illustrate how they have changed over time.

Raising Awareness For Threatened Reefs

More than 12,000 square kilometers of coral reefs could be destroyed if the event goes unchecked.
Image: UVM

While some reefs recover after ocean temperatures cool, most will die out. The team observed a bleached reef off American Samoa and discovered that about 95 percent of the coral had died.

The survey will post its data to Google Street View to raise awareness and allow internet users to understand the effects of coral bleaching. Vevers said coral bleaching hasn’t yet grabbed the world’s attention.

“This is the equivalent of rainforest turning white and no one noticing,” Vevers said.

The survey is meant to direct attention to the severity of the bleaching event to make positive change, Vevers said at the December at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.

“The XL Catlin Seaview Survey team will be at COP21 with this imagery,” Vevers said. “We’re also using virtual reality technology with Google Cardboard so we can take the policy makers and the media to go see the coral bleaching firsthand.”

 

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