Some people were in for a surprise this summer when their cool dip in the ocean turned out to be more of a lukewarm swim at the beach.
If the ocean water has been feeling a bit warmer than usual to you, you’re not wrong.
Shores across Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland are a few degrees higher in temperature this summer than they were at this time last year, according to Sea Temperature, which provides water temperature readings in real time.
But is it something you should be worried about?
What are the ocean temperatures in Delaware?
Waters at Dewey Beach typically range from 68 degrees to 78 degrees in July. On July 26, the water temperature was 76 degrees. A year ago, the ocean at Dewey Beach was recorded as 75 degrees.
The ocean at Rehoboth Beach is typically between 68 degrees and 78 degrees in July. On July 26, Rehoboth Beach waters were 76 degrees. A year ago, it was 75 degrees.
Lewes Beach waters typically fluctuate between 68 degrees and 80 degrees in July. On July 26, the ocean temperature in Lewes was 74 degrees. A year before, it was 73 degrees.
The ocean at Bethany Beach ranges in temperature from 68 degrees to 78 degrees in July. On July 26, the ocean temperature at Bethany Beach was recorded as 76 degrees. A year ago, it was 73 degrees.
Located further south than the other beaches, Fenwick Island has an average temperature range of 68 degrees to 82 degrees in July. On July 26, the ocean temperature at Fenwick Island was 76 degrees. The year before, the ocean temperature was 71 degrees.
What are the ocean temperatures in New Jersey?
Ocean City, New Jersey, typically stays between 68 degrees and 82 degrees in July. On July 26, the ocean temperature in Ocean City was recorded as 76 degrees. The year before, it was 75 degrees.
In Atlantic City, the water temperature stays between 68 degrees and 82 degrees in July. On July 26, the ocean temperature was 73 degrees. A year ago, the water temperature was 71 degrees.
Wildwood typically sees ocean temperatures between 69 degrees and 84 degrees in July. On July 26, the ocean in Wildwood was 76 degrees. The year before, it was 73 degrees.
In Cape May, the average ocean temperature in July ranges from 69 degrees to 84 degrees. On July 26, the ocean temperature in Cape May was 75 degrees. A year before, it was 71 degrees.
What are the ocean temperatures in Maryland?
In Ocean City, Maryland, the ocean temperature typically stays between 68 degrees and 82 degrees in July. On July 26, it was 77 degrees. A year ago, the water temperature was recorded as 75 degrees.
What do warmer ocean temperatures mean?
“On the eastern coast of [the] U.S. compared to last year, the temperature does not increase overall. [The] temperature does not change or warm up much,” said Boyin Huang, an oceanographer from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information.
Huang says ocean temperature change comes down to whether a location is affected by environmental change or other things like water becoming shallower and recent weather events.
“For a small location like Delaware, it’s because of year-to-year fluctuation,” Huang said. “It’s kind of a peace of mind that, ‘Oh, this change is mostly associated with fluctuation from year to year, season to season.”
These minute changes are considered normal, Huang said, and can be impacted by things like El Niño or La Niña, but because of the nature of the ocean, this is not a cause for concern.
“But if you look over broadly, we’ve seen a temperature change in the global ocean,” said Huang, who adds that the gradual ocean temperatures from year to year recorded over the past several decades point to the effect of greenhouse gases.
This ocean temperature increase, and the location of warming, can impact the quantity and severity of hurricanes.
With hurricane season running through October, the impacts of warming this year in the Atlantic Ocean have yet to be determined, he said.
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How can ocean warming impact the climate?
According to the United State Environmental Protection Agency, oceans are absorbing more heat as greenhouse gases trap more energy from the sun, resulting in an increase in sea surface temperatures and rising sea levels.
Changes in ocean currents and temperatures brought about by climate change will lead to climate patterns around the world being altered, warns the EPA, adding that warmer waters may promote the development of stronger storms in the tropics and result in greater property damage and loss of life.
These impacts are a major concern for coastal communities.
NASA reports that one-third to one-half of global sea level rise can be attributed to heat stored in the ocean. The last 10 years were the ocean’s warmest decade since the 1800s, with 2022 named the ocean’s warmest recorded year with the highest global sea level.
The ocean has absorbed 90% of the warming that has occurred in recent decades due to increased greenhouse gases, and the top few meters of the ocean store as much heat as the Earth’s atmosphere, NASA said.
Ocean warming also can cause coral bleaching, accelerated melting of Earth’s major ice sheets and changes in ocean health and biochemistry.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
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