EUMETSAT Annual Report 2022

EUMETSAT ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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These episodes of persistent, anomalously warm
ocean temperatures pose a serious threat to the
health of marine ecosystems around the globe.
One particular ecosystem impacted by marine
heatwaves is coral reefs. Heatwaves can cause coral
bleaching, disease outbreaks, and algal blooms.
In its 6th Assessment Report, the United Nations’
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
found that ocean surface temperatures increased
on average by almost 1°C globally since the start
of the industrial era. Similarly, the frequency of
marine heatwaves (high confidence) as well as their
intensity and lifetime (medium confidence) have
increased since the 1980s. The Sentinel-3 satellites,
operated by EUMETSAT, are the Copernicus
programme’s contribution to monitoring of sea
surface temperatures, with the Sea and Land
Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) on
Sentinel-3A and -3B. The SLSTR provides frequent,
high-quality, and high-resolution sea surface
temperature data, allowing for observations at
event scale. Climate data records of satellite sea
Healthy coral
Coral and algae
live in symbiosis
Stressed coral
Symbiosis is disturbed,
algae leave the coral
Increased sea surface temperature ⇢
Above: Schematic representation of coral bleaching
occurring with increasing sea surface temperatures
surface temperatures can provide a good basis for
verifying the IPCC’s conclusions that global oceans
have warmed strongly and marine heatwaves
have increased significantly since the 1980s. Data
on marine heatwaves can help characterise the
stressors facing marine ecosystems and contribute
to decision making to protect, manage and restore
those affected.
For more information,
read the case study on the
EUMETSAT website
Bleached coral
www.eumetsat.int/marine-heatwaveintensification-threatens-coral-reef-health
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