Seismic Surveillance Reveals Climate Change’s Impact through Ocean Waves

Since the 1980s, an escalation in ocean wave intensity, paralleling climate change trends, has been detected by seismic stations. Research from Colorado State University, scrutinizing data spanning over three and a half decades, indicates a notable augmentation in ocean wave strength, which is attributed to the heightened severity of storms as a consequence of global warming. This seismic evidence, highlighting shifts in wave energy over time, emphasizes the urgency for robust approaches to shield coastal regions against the ramifications of climate change.

Globally, modern digital seismic stations have been tracing the Earth’s vibrations since the late 1980s. Previously dismissed as insignificant by seismologists, the continuous, low-frequency noise from ocean waves has shown a marked increase since the late 20th century. This observation is supported by a study led by Colorado State University.

Published in Nature Communications, the research involved analyzing data from 52 seismic stations, which recorded Earth’s movements every second for over 35 years. This extensive dataset corroborates separate findings from climate and ocean studies, suggesting an intensification of storms as the climate continues to warm.

“Seismology offers reliable and quantifiable insights into the behavior of the world’s ocean waves, complementing findings from satellite, oceanographic, and other methodologies,” stated Rick Aster, the study’s lead author, a professor of geophysics at CSU, and the head of the Department of Geosciences. “The seismic data not only aligns with these other studies but also exhibits characteristics that we would anticipate from human-induced climate change.”

Aster, along with colleagues from the U.S. Geological Survey and Harvard University, focused on the primary microseism – a seismic phenomenon caused by large ocean waves moving over shallower parts of the ocean. These waves exert continuous pressure changes on the seafloor in coastal areas, generating seismic waves that are captured by seismographs.

Seismographs are widely recognized for their role in earthquake detection and analysis but are also sensitive to other phenomena, including glacial movements, landslides, volcanic activities, incoming meteors, and urban noise. Seismic waves, whether originating from surface or internal Earth activities, can be discerned from considerable distances, even across the globe.

“As the atmosphere and oceans warm, they hold more energy, leading to more powerful storms and consequently larger, more energetic ocean waves,” explained Aster. “This surge in ocean wave energy directly amplifies the intensity of seismic waves.”

Increasing Wave Magnitude

Seismic data highlighted that waves in the storm-prone Southern Ocean near Antarctica were the most forceful globally. However, the North Atlantic waves have shown the most rapid escalation in recent years, mirroring the intensification of storms across the North Atlantic.

The data also revealed patterns related to multi-year climate cycles like El Niño and La Niña, influencing global storm strength and distribution. Moreover, a steady increase in wave energy was observed, reflecting the global rise in ocean and air temperatures and the prevalence of larger storms.

“This consistent and growing signal of storm activity is evident in these long-term seismic records, along with a marked intensification due to global warming,” noted Aster. “Though it may seem minor annually, it becomes distinctly apparent over the span of more than 30 years.”

The team discovered that the average global ocean wave energy has risen at a median rate of 0.27% annually since the late 20th century and 0.35% annually since January 2000.

Foreboding Climate Predictions

Aster emphasized the combined threat of larger waves, increased storm-related surges, and rising sea levels, posing significant challenges for coastal ecosystems, urban areas, and infrastructure.

“To safeguard our coastal communities and ecosystems against an increasingly tempestuous future, we need to both implement resilient strategies and strive to mitigate climate change itself,” advised Aster.

The study, titled “Increasing ocean wave energy observed in Earth’s seismic wavefield since the late 20th century” by Richard C. Aster, Adam T. Ringler, Robert E. Anthony, and Thomas A. Lee, was published on 32 October 2023 in Nature Communications.

Funding for the research was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Science Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Seismic Climate Change Impact

More about Seismic Climate Change Impact

• Colorado State University Study on Seismic Data and Climate Change
• Nature Communications: Seismic Analysis of Ocean Waves
• Understanding Seismology’s Role in Climate Change Research
• Global Trends in Ocean Wave Intensity and Climate Change
• The Impact of Increased Ocean Wave Energy on Coastal Areas
• Seismic Records and Long-Term Climate Change Patterns
• The Role of Seismic Stations in Monitoring Environmental Changes
• Research Findings on Ocean Wave Energy and Global Warming Effects