The world’s oceans reached their hottest level in recorded history last year, supercharging (加剧) extreme weather events, scientists have reported. They found that the five hottest recorded years in the oceans     1    (occur) since 2015, and that the rate of heating since 1986 was eight times higher than     2     from 1960-85. Oceans cover 71% of the planet and water can absorb thousands of times more heat than air,     3     is why 93% of global heating is taken up by seas.

Hotter oceans destroy rainfall patterns, which     4    (lead) to floods, droughts and wildfires. Heat also causes seawater     5     (expand) and drives up sea levels. Scientists expect about one metre of sea level rise by the end of the century,     6    (threaten) 150 million people. Higher temperatures in the seas are also harming marine (海洋的) life, with     7     number of ocean heatwaves increasing     8    (sharp).

The study also finds that the sinking of surface waters and upwelling of deeper water is reducing as the seas heat up. This means the surface layers heats up even further and fewer nutrients for marine life are brought up from the     9    (deep).

“The oceans reached yet another new record level of warmth in 2020,    10     a record drop in global carbon emissions (排放). The planet will continue to warm up as long as we emit carbon into the atmosphere,” said Prof Michael Mann of Penn State University.