Scientists say our oceans have hit their hottest recorded temperature largely because of Climate Change, with alarming implications for the planet. This week the average daily global Sea Surface Temperature hit almost 21 degrees celsius. Thats far above the average for the time of year and it beats the previous record set in 2016. The oceans are a vital regulator of the earths climate. Heres our climate editor, justin rowlatt. Theyve been taking measurements of Ocean Temperatures here in plymouth for more than a century. And for the last 50 or so years, theyve shown a slow but steady increase up about a third of a degree a decade. Have we got a reading for today yet, do you know . I heard them Say Something around 18 or 19, which is four Degrees Higher than it should be. Its been a similar pattern globally. Rising Sea Temperatures and increasing numbers of marine heatwaves. And it has just reached a new peak 20. 96 degrees celsius, the highest Global Average sea temperature ever record
at 20.96 degrees celsius. but look how high above the average it is. more than half a degree celsius above the average temperature for the time of year. remember, this is a global average, you are not expect it to very much year by year. the other interesting thing is that the peakis other interesting thing is that the peak is happening in august, not in march. now, 60% of the ocean is in the southern hemisphere. march is the southern hemisphere. march is the end of the southern summer. the sun has been shining on the ocean, you re expected to get hotter. this is happening exceptionally early. let s look at this other graph, which helps us understand why we are seeing this now. this shows marine heatwaves around the world. the redder the colour, the more intense the heatwave. you can see a lot of heatin the heatwave. you can see a lot of heat in the south atlantic, and also a lot of heat in the mid atlantic, a lot of heat in the north atlantic. that s really unusual. very high temperat
own. he claimed the uk government had failed to protect people in england and was politically paralysed in decisions over restrictions, making it different of course to scotland, northern ireland and wales. when the restrictions were introduced here on boxing day that meant closing night clubs, limiting numbers on people in pubs, bars and restaurants, playing major sporting fixtures behind closed doors. but since then the covid case rate in wales has risen sharply and by some measures is now above england and scotland. one thing is for certain, those measures are likely to stay for another fortnight with mr drakeford warning that the peakis with mr drakeford warning that the peak is not expected for some 14 days and if they are extended even further there is concern that wales s home rugby internationals in february could potentially be moved over the border to england. harwell over the border to england. hywel griffith, thank over the border to england. hywel griffith, thank you,
thank you very much for your time on what is a busy day for you. can you give us the latest assessment for the areas we have been mentioning? the river is incredibly high. the peakis the river is incredibly high. the peak is travelling downstream towards shrewsbury at the moment which means that we are watching the levels at ironbridge very closely. the peaks they are not due until later today and into tomorrow, but we are expecting the barriers will start to. later on today. and that is why it is important that people are taking action now to stay safe. if they have not taken action already, what would you like them to do? ah. already, what would you like them to do? , ., ., ., already, what would you like them to do? , ., ., , do? a severe flood warning means that ou do? a severe flood warning means that you need do? a severe flood warning means that you need to do? a severe flood warning means that you need to act do? a severe flood warning means that you need to act now.
could ve looked of the restrictions now if we were only dealing with the original variant because it appears to be in decline. perhaps that s the way to put it. we can t guarantee that with the delta variant. we know the cases will be much higher in a month. we ve excepted they ve be much higher but we are hoping for the vaccination to ensure that the peakis the vaccination to ensure that the peak is manageable. the peak point we reach for this whenever it comes is something the health service can cope with. how confident you think they can be? i’m cope with. how confident you think they can be? cope with. how confident you think the can be? ., , ., ., they can be? i m not sure about that because if you they can be? i m not sure about that because if you look they can be? i m not sure about that because if you look at they can be? i m not sure about that because if you look at the they can be? i m not sure about that because if you look at the data - because if you look at