Located in Scarborough, Maine, researchers studying the Atlantic Ocean near Maine have noted that the waters off New England experienced another year of warmth, albeit at a slower rate compared to earlier in the decade. This trend stands in contrast to the overall pattern of increased warming observed globally.
Approximately a decade ago, the Gulf of Maine, which borders three New England states and Canada, became a focal point for climate change research due to its rapid warming compared to most other oceanic regions worldwide. As a critical habitat for valuable seafood species and a cornerstone of the American lobster industry, the Gulf of Maine’s significance cannot be overstated.
According to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, the annual sea surface temperature in the gulf reached 51.5 degrees Fahrenheit (10.8 degrees Celsius) last year, surpassing the long-term average from 1991 to 2020 by more than 0.88 F (0.49 C). Despite ranking as the 12th warmest year on record for the gulf, this represented a decline from its position as the fifth warmest the year prior. Notably, the gulf had experienced record-setting warmth in both 2021 and 2022, marking a recent shift in the temperature trend.
In a recent report, the institute highlighted that the Gulf of Maine’s conditions diverged from the record-high temperatures observed in other parts of the North Atlantic and around the world. Over the period from 1982 to 2024, the gulf’s average annual sea surface temperatures have been rising at a rate of 0.84 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, nearly three times faster than the global oceanic warming rate.
The warming trend in the Gulf of Maine has raised concerns within the seafood industry, as scientists have linked it to a decrease in the settlement of young lobsters in the area. Additionally, the region is vital for the conservation of vulnerable seabirds like Atlantic puffins and marine mammals such as the North Atlantic right whale.
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute has identified multiple factors contributing to the accelerated warming of the gulf. Notably, the institute points to climate change intensifying the Gulf Stream, which transports warmer waters northward. Furthermore, the weakening of the cold Labrador Current no longer serves as a barrier against the influx of warmer waters into the gulf.
The report for 2024 noted below-average temperatures during the winter months, with June ranking as the second warmest on record. Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures were predominantly observed in the summer and fall, while colder-than-average conditions were recorded during the winter months at the beginning and end of the year.
