[imagesource:befunky]

Scientists have recorded sea temperatures of 37.8°C for two days in a row off the coast of Florida this month, and they are now wondering if this is the hottest seawater ever recorded.

To put into perspective, the Hot tub maker Jacuzzi recommends temperature for hot tubs at 37°C – 39°C, and then a healthy adult is also advised to not spend more than 20 minutes soaking in the soup.

On Monday evening, a buoy floating in Manatee Bay reported a staggering 38.4°C, according to National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto. A 2020 study recorded the world’s highest sea surface temperature at 37.6 C in Kuwait Bay.

Indicating that this might not just be a freak instance, coral reefs about 40 km from the hotspot have been experiencing coral bleaching, and are now dying out in a spot that boasts Florida’s oldest coral reefs.

The usual cool sea breeze that flows in with the Atlantic trade winds has also fallen still lately and this, coupled with an unusually hot summer, has caused havoc with the area’s ecosystems.

“We found that the entire reef was bleached out. Every single coral colony was exhibiting some form of paling, partial bleaching or full out bleaching.”

Bleaching, which doesn’t kill coral but weakens it and could lead to death, occurs when water temperatures pass the upper 30’s°C. Scientists say this was a very rare occurrence up until the 1980s, but now it’s become common as the North Atlantic Ocean temperature is ‘off the charts’.

Better go scuba diving while the reefs are still colourful.

[source:economictimes]