Could the Earth’s oceans boil away: what scientists said

NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — In the mid-20th century, scientists recorded a steady trend of rising sea surface temperatures. Anthropogenic climate change, particularly the release of greenhouse gases, is exacerbating the situation, but whether the oceans might ever boil remains an open question.

Experts say humanity’s current methods will not lead to boiling oceans. Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather of Berkeley Earth argues that even if all known fossil fuel reserves were burned, temperatures would not reach critical levels.

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane trap heat, causing the ocean surface to gradually warm. The upper layers of water can absorb enormous amounts of heat, and recent observations indicate rising temperatures even in deep areas.

Theoretically, the oceans could boil if they reach a critical temperature. This is caused by a feedback loop: heating water causes it to evaporate, which increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increases the greenhouse gas effect.

In the past, similar processes led to boiling oceans on Venus. However, the Earth, being further from the Sun, requires significantly more greenhouse gases for such a scenario.

Research published in 2013 shows that ten times more carbon dioxide is needed than is currently available to humanity.

It’s not just human activity that affects the oceans. Towards the end of its life, the Sun will change, which will also affect the Earth’s temperature.

Astronomer Robert Smith of the University of Sussex suggests that the Earth’s surface temperature will gradually rise over the next 7 billion years.

Although researchers are trying to predict the future, the exact moment when the oceans will begin to boil remains a mystery.

Smith and his colleagues have been projecting possible ocean evaporation within 1 billion years since 2008. Perhaps by then humanity will have reduced emissions into the atmosphere and the future of the oceans can be predicted.

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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.

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