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IRELAND HAS EXPERIENCED an event unprecedented in recorded history: a category four extreme marine heatwave in our waters.
Water temperatures around Ireland – in particular off the northwest coast – were between four and five degrees higher than normal. Temperatures continue to be far higher than normal for this time of the year.
Oceans play a crucial and sometimes under-appreciated role in regulating the Earth’s climate, acting as essentially a heat sink and taking the edge off rising global temperatures.
Marine life is also highly sensitive to temperature changes, leading to implications for both food security and the potential for the introduction of non-native species migrating northwards into Irish waters in search of cooler temperatures.
So what does this heatwave tell us? Can we point the finger of blame at the El Niño climate pattern, or is this the oceans sending a climate signal of distress?
Presenter Laura Byrne is joined on this week’s episode by Lauren Boland, reporter with The Journal and author of our climate newsletter Temperature Check, and Dr Gerard McCarthy, oceanographer working with Maynooth University’s ICARUS climate unit.
They examine the impact of the heatwave, what it means for marine life, and look at wider oceanic climate trends impacting Ireland, such as an increasingly unstable Gulf Stream.
https://soundcloud.com/the-explainer-podcast/what-does-irelands-unprecedented-marine-heatwave-tell-us-about-our-climate
This episode was put together by presenter Laura Byrne, senior producer Nicky Ryan and executive producer Sinéad O’Carroll.
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At the moment Ireland is experiencing some of the most miserable summers days (some would say typical Irish summer).
Consequently, the attention has shifted from the “the hottest June on record” to a new climatological phenomenon: the highest sea temperatures ever documented.
It’s like these guys made a bet they can work the climate crisis into every conversation, or the can make everything about it.
@Stan Hardy: No matter what happens, hot or cold, stormy or calm, it’s all due – somehow – to climate change.
@Tony Murphy: Yes, according to them, our summers should consistently feature sub 15C temperatures, drizzle, wind, and overcast skies, and the waters should be just above freezing. It’s not enough that we already have this weather from September to May; we should have it year-round.
Even though we arguably have the most miserable summers in Europe, barring Nordic countries and parts of Scotland, they suggest this is insufficient.
Whatever small silver linings exist (staycations, a boost to some sectors of the economy, the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors more), people are made to feel guilty and abnormal for noticing or enjoying them.
@Tony Murphy: That’t the wonderful thing about the vagueness of ‘climate change’- any weather at any time of year is now ‘evidence’ of ‘climate change’. They have people actually believing that a hot day in summer is now unatural, or a cold day in winter is bizzare.
@Stan Hardy:
BS
The grapes are doing very fine here in Youghal.
@Stan Hardy: It’s part of their G&Os for the year, if they have not hit those metrics, their end of year performance reviews will not go well.
I had the heating on for an hour this evening
Same last night.
Dont know where they are getting all this boiling weather claims from.
El Nino my ar^e
@UCD Trinity: It really is all about perspective, I havent had the heating on since march. Weather isnt fantastic but by same token i dont know where my jacket is or when it was last needed
Wish the water was a bit warmer at Inch beach yesterday.Dived straight in thinking I’d have swimming pool temps but brrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!
@Willie Marty: I agree, I find the sea freezing cold at the moment, certainly no warmer than usual.
@Willie Marty:
One point for being so scientific ….
Global warming, could we have some please?
Try swimming in our sea. Definitely ain’t warm.
Someone’s telling porkies…
More clap-trap. Ireland is a very corrupt and unfair society. The focus should be on the morally bankrupt political class, the disgraceful health service, the complete selfishness evident in Irish Society the disgusting level of homelessness, rental price gouging and the complete lack of empathy shown to the elderly amongst other things. The Journal and the rest of the Irish media should also have a close look at Eamonn Ryan his seven/eight or nine overpaid advisers, his green party chronies, their idiotic bycycle lanes, their moronic energy policy plus the unethical behaviour toward Barryroe Energy which will likely cost the irish tax payer hundreds of millions following possible litigation !!
@Keith+P McDonald: While our problems are important and need to be addressed, it’s important remember that we are only 0.017% of the Planet by area, and global issues that affect the planet as a whole and us, also need consideration.
Well he can pay mine as well.I would also like to know when the top brass in the HSE are coming before Pac.The top dog there is on £1000000(1 million) and the so called middle managment are on £250k+These salaries dwarf the RTE people .Accountability please!!!!
@Willie Marty: sorry this post was meant for another forum
I am not disputing the facts of climate change, but can I just say for the first time in several weeks, I had to put on the central heating today.
@Richard Barrett: is that Richard Boyd
I thought my thermostat was on the blink, but now I’m certain it was climate change that raised the temperature of my bath water by 1-3°C.
I’m buying a beach front property atm. Looking forward to passing it down to my future generations. I’ll be sure to tell them the tale of when everyone thought we were (mankind) responsible for climate/weather.
Such a mad cult
Bejaziz
lol
Does The Journal get paid to do these ‘climate change’ propaganda pieces? This nonsense is utterly relentless day after day.
It’s quite telling that the vast majority of “people “on here making the most provocative comments and throwing the most insults hide behind nicknames etc
It speaks volumes on there lack of character and also begs the question why such weirdos should be given an opportunity to voice such childlike sound bites again again. Then again children will be children
Are there actual readings on plankton levels available?
I went for a swim today and am now in A&E for stage 4 burns. Terrible.
It looks like another bumper harvest of Riesling in Youghal.
Phoenix as well,
the Marechal Foch not as much as last time.
:)
Cold and miserable until mid May, some nice weather for a few weeks, then changeable for another couple of weeks, and July is pretty awful. Truly Irish weather. Our planet is slooowwwwwwly warming up since the ice age, slightly sped up by human activity, mainly due to the irresponsibility of the largest nations. We (Ireland) do a lot of good in terms of the environment, but sadly we’re told the huge lie that taxes are the only solution.
Climate change is a very complex subject to mitigate. Many forces drive climate in the short and long term. The Milankovitch cycles which are well accepted, affect long term climate change by eccentricity, obliquity, axial perception and apsidal precession. Only recently it was discovered that changes Earths eccentricity has extended predicted Ice Age cycles from every 41,000 years to every 100,000 years and the causes of these changes are still not fully understood. Those who argue climate has always changed in the past should research the above and should not be confused with the short term climate drivers. Human produced Co2 emissions is a clear example of a short term climate driver. The above article highlights the concerning effects of short term human induced climate change.
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