Researchers have unveiled an image of a coral found in the waters of Fiji, believed to date back to the year 1397. Their findings were recently published in the journal Science Advance.
According to the scientists, “Giant boulder corals can hold centuries-old stories within their growth histories or the chemical composition of their skeletons.” They noted that this particular coral reveals a significant warm period from 1370 to 1553, during which the surrounding sea temperatures in Fiji were nearly as high as they are today. This discovery highlights the natural variability of the Pacific climate system.
The researchers also emphasized the importance of integrating coral data with other paleoceanographic records from across the Pacific to understand broader climate trends. By doing so, they found that the recent rise in Pacific-wide temperatures over the past century, primarily driven by human-induced global warming, represents a major shift from the natural patterns observed in previous centuries.
They pointed out that while some regions of the Pacific experienced temporary warming or cooling phases, that historical pattern is changing. Warming trends are becoming increasingly synchronized across the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean, which impacts rainfall patterns, droughts, and flooding, since rainfall is often produced from water vapor evaporating over warmer seas.
However, the scientists cautioned that the current warming, characterized by minor variations in ocean temperatures throughout the Pacific, is not reflective of the norms of the last six centuries. Their research indicates that the waters around Fiji are the hottest they have been in at least 653 years.