Researchers have unveiled an image of a coral found in the waters of Fiji, which they assert is approximately 626 years old, dating back to 1397. Their findings were recently published in the journal Science Advance.
According to the scientists, giant boulder corals can preserve centuries-old narratives within their growth patterns or the chemical makeup of their skeletons. They noted that the coral exhibits evidence of a significant warm period occurring between 1370 and 1553, when sea temperatures around Fiji were nearly as high as they are today. This discovery highlights the natural variability of the Pacific climate system.
However, the researchers emphasize that integrating coral data with other paleoceanographic records from across the Pacific can provide a more comprehensive understanding of climate patterns. Their analysis indicates that the warming observed in the Pacific over the past century, primarily linked to human-induced global warming, signifies a considerable shift away from the natural climate variations noted in previous centuries.
The scientists observed that while specific regions in the Pacific experienced warmer or cooler periods at different times, this relationship is changing. Warming has become more synchronized across the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean, leading to significant alterations in rainfall patterns, as the evaporation of water from warmer seas influences precipitation.
Furthermore, the researchers pointed out that the current state of warming, which involves relatively minor differences in ocean temperatures across the Pacific, is atypical when compared to the past six centuries. Their study suggests that the waters around Fiji are currently the hottest they have been in at least 653 years.