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The Indian Ocean is expected to experience a significant rise in heat waves unless there is a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions. EcoWatch is a digital platform that was established in 2005 in Ohio, focusing on sharing high-quality, science-driven content related to environmental topics, their causes, and potential solutions.

Recent studies have discovered that the tropical Indian Ocean is heating up at a faster rate than ever before, and this trend could accelerate in the coming years if immediate action is not taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities.

The rapid rise in temperature could have serious consequences for various species of plants and animals, especially coral reefs, and could also affect the economy in many ways.

Dr. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the lead author of the study, explained that the projected rise in heat content is like the energy from one Hiroshima atomic bomb explosion being added every second, continuously, for ten years.

A recent study found that the temperature of the third-largest ocean on Earth has been steadily increasing from 1871 to 2020. The average sea surface temperature in the 1870s was 79.6 degrees Fahrenheit, but had risen to 81 degrees Fahrenheit by the 2010s.

The warming of the ocean surface and the accumulation of heat in the first 6,561.7 feet below in the Indian Ocean can greatly impact the monsoon season in the region. This weather pattern is responsible for about 70 percent of India's annual rainfall and also influences the climate in other South Asian countries.

The rise in temperature could lead to more severe and frequent extreme weather events such as floods and tropical cyclones, as well as an increase in sea levels due to the expansion of water in the 40 countries surrounding the Indian Ocean. Koll highlighted that thermal expansion contributes to over half of the rise in sea levels, surpassing the effects of melting sea ice and glaciers.

According to the study, the frequency of marine heatwaves is expected to rise significantly from 20 days per year in the period 1970-2000 to 220-250 days per year. This increase will lead to the tropical Indian Ocean being in a state of near-permanent heatwave by the end of the 21st century.

Marine heat waves can cause coral reefs to lose their color, damage kelp forests, and result in seagrass dying off. Additionally, they can play a role in making tropical cyclones stronger more quickly.

Koll explained to Mongabay India that extended periods of warm ocean temperatures will not only make cyclones stronger, but also impact the migration of fish, coral reefs, phytoplankton, and overall marine biodiversity.

Scientists studied the increase in ocean surface temperature over the years and discovered that it had risen by 0.12 degrees Celsius per decade from 1950 to 2020.

According to Down to Earth, the ocean's northwest region, which includes the Arabian Sea, experienced the most significant increase in temperature, while the smallest increase was observed off the coasts of Java and Sumatra.

Experts believe that the warming of the Indian Ocean will lead to a decline in the pH levels of the water, dropping from around 8.1 to 7.7 by the year 2100.

Koll explained that the expected pH changes could harm the marine ecosystem because many marine creatures, such as corals and those that rely on calcification to form and keep their shells, are sensitive to the increase in ocean acidity.

The research stated that the best approach to address the impacts of current and future warming is to construct infrastructure that can withstand climate challenges and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

According to a study co-authored by Thomas Frölicher, a climate scientist at the University of Bern, the Indian Ocean is experiencing significant increases in both the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves due to climate change. These trends are expected to continue unless there is a substantial reduction in global CO2 emissions. This information was reported by Down to Earth.

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