Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/gulf-of-mexico-warming-at-double-ocean-rate/
Something startling is happening in the Gulf of Mexico – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
The Gulf of Mexico is warming twice as fast as the global average for ocean waters. This accelerated pace stands out against the broader pattern of ocean heating driven by rising greenhouse gases. The change carries direct consequences for the intensity and frequency of hurricanes that form in the region each season.
Tracking the Temperature Rise
Measurements show the Gulf’s surface waters have increased in temperature at a rate roughly double that observed across the world’s oceans as a whole. Scientists attribute the difference to the Gulf’s relatively shallow depth and its enclosed geography, which limit how quickly heat can mix downward or escape. These physical traits make the basin more responsive to the same atmospheric warming that affects deeper ocean basins more slowly.
Long-term records confirm the trend has strengthened in recent decades. The result is a body of water that now reaches higher peak temperatures earlier in the year than it did in previous generations. Such shifts alter the baseline conditions that storms encounter when they move across the Gulf.
Geography and Heat Retention
The Gulf sits between the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, creating a semi-enclosed sea that traps heat more effectively than open ocean areas. Warm water from the Caribbean flows in through the Yucatán Channel, while cooler water exits more slowly…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-05-13 16:15:00
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