Madeleine Cuff, an environment reporter for New Scientist, and Emma Beals, a contributor on critical security issues, dive into the alarming rise in ocean temperatures and their far-reaching implications. They discuss how warmer seas threaten military operations, possibly creating new conflict zones and destabilizing fragile states. The duo also highlights the role of climate change as a 'threat multiplier' and the urgent need for international cooperation to tackle these emerging security challenges. It's a wake-up call for global awareness!
The alarming rise in ocean temperatures since March 2023 poses serious threats to military operations and global stability due to altered sonar and increased geopolitical tensions.
Individuals can significantly impact the climate crisis by making informed choices in voting, supporting eco-friendly businesses, and advocating for urgent governmental action.
Deep dives
Rising Ocean Temperatures and Climate Impact
Ocean temperatures have surged significantly since March 2023, breaking previous records and raising alarms among scientists. This rapid increase is attributed to both climate change and the transition from La Niña to El Niño weather patterns, which has allowed pent-up heat to be released into the oceans. The consequences of this warming are far-reaching, affecting ecosystems, weather patterns, and human activities. Notably, intense turbulence has been reported in commercial flights, causing injuries and disruptions, highlighting how climate change is rapidly becoming a part of everyday life.
Security Risks Linked to Warming Oceans
The warming oceans pose critical security challenges, impacting both military operations and global stability. Warming waters affect submarine sonar effectiveness, leading to potential risks in naval operations. Furthermore, the potential for increased international conflicts in regions already vulnerable to instability is heightened, particularly as extreme weather events and resource shortages stress governmental capacities. The implications also extend to the Arctic, where melting ice opens new shipping routes, raising concerns about geopolitical tensions and accidents in contested waters.
Potential Effects on Ocean Currents and Ecosystems
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is at risk of slowing down, which could have drastic effects on global weather patterns and ecosystems. Freshwater influx from melting ice alters salinity and temperature dynamics, jeopardizing the sinking motion of key currents that regulate climates, especially in Europe. A possible collapse of the AMOC could lead to significant cooling in Northern Europe, more intense storms globally, and disturbances in oceanic nutrient distribution. The repercussions for marine life, such as fish stocks and coral reefs, are concerning, suggesting immediate changes for ecosystems dependent on stable ocean conditions.
Individual Actions to Mitigate Climate Change
Individuals play a crucial role in addressing climate change through informed voting and consumer choices. By supporting candidates with robust climate policies and businesses committed to sustainable practices, they can influence broader systemic change. Additionally, raising public awareness and advocating for urgent climate action can help prioritize environmental concerns at government and organizational levels. Ultimately, collective efforts can amplify the push for significant policy changes necessary to combat the escalating climate crisis.
Climate change doesn’t just mean dire consequences for food, water, human migration and long-term human survival. As the seas heat up they create critical security issues, from impacts on military sonar to spikes in turbulence threatening commercial flights, from new theatres of war to suddenly fragile states and strengthened terrorist groups. Are we ignoring a new source of global instability?
Emma Beals talks to New Scientist’s environment reporter Madeleine Cuffabout why the oceans are warming and where – and asks Pentagon advisor, strategist and Polar Institute fellow Sherri Goodmanabout why hotter, more dangerous seas are a “threat multiplier”.
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Written and presented by Emma Beals. Audio production by Robin Leeburn and Tom Taylor. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production