March 2022 — Ocean Warming
Photo by Lisa Tossey
The global ocean has been warming up as a consequence of anthropogenic, or human-made, climate change, with 90% of the anthropogenic warming stored in the world’s ocean, leading to an increase in ocean heat.
This, in turn, can fuel sea level rise. According to the NOAA:
Sea level can rise by two different mechanisms with respect to climate change. First, as the oceans warm due to an increasing global temperature, seawater expands—taking up more space in the ocean basin and causing a rise in water level. The second mechanism is the melting of ice over land, which then adds water to the ocean.
In addition, studies have shown “a link between ocean surface temperatures and tropical storm intensity – warmer waters fuel more energetic storms” and also influence where these intense storms occur.
To learn more about ocean warming, check out the March 2022 episode of SeaTalk.
Notable Dates in March
March 3 — Join weather and emergency management experts for Are You Storm Ready? An Engage and Exchange Workshop, a 90-minute workshop combining the history of severe weather in our state, future outlooks for storms and disasters, and information about ways to prepare. Click here to learn more and register
March 8 — International Women’s Day. Students at the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environment’s School of Marine Science and Policy have started one of 17 chapters of the Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS) around the world.
March 20 — First Day of Spring . The start of the season is marked by the Spring Equinox, when day and night are equal lengths. At the link, the National Weather Service explains, “The ‘nearly’ equal hours of day and night is due to refraction of sunlight. or a bending of the light's rays that causes the sun to appear above the horizon when the actual position of the sun is below the horizon.”
March 22 — World Water Day. World Water Day is about the need for everyone to have access to safe drinking water. At Sea Grant, we believe protecting people and protecting the environment are two sides of one goal: sustainable stewardship of natural resources. Click here to learn more.